Passed the ONE YEAR Mark

Its been awhile since I've posted but let me tell you life has been a little hectic.  The good news is we have passed the one year mark and let me tell you it feels good.  Why you ask?  Well the main reason is we will have to endure many less firsts...ex. first Christmas without Dad, first birthday, first fishing season, first hunting season, first well everything.  Much of that is over and while it is still difficult at times things are better.  We have hope, we have healing...we still have each other.  For that reason we decided to get together for the one year anniversary and play some cards, drink some beers and have some fun!

The Ladder to Heaven

The Ladder to Heaven

That final climb up to heaven’s gate

To meet the Lord, you no longer wait.

Jesus took your hand and led you there

Now safe and sound within His care.

I miss you so and wait my turn

With faith and trust in my heart burns.

I’ll see you again but until then

I weep beneath the ladder to Heaven.

-JG

Roger's Twin Brother - Randy

This week would have been Dad's 63rd Birthday on February 5th.  It also marks 4 months since his passing.  I know this week will be difficult for me and those close to him so I thought I'd post a lighthearted story about a time us kids were introduced to Dad's twin brother Randy.

As long as I could remember Dad has always worn glasses and had a mustache, a beautiful mustache.  Anyways, I can't remember our exact ages, but Dad decided he was going to get contacts and what a great time to play a trick on his kids.  Not only did he try out contacts but he shaved his mustache, came and rang the front door bell and had Mom introduce him to us as Dad's twin brother Randy.  All three of us began crying inconsolably until Mom & Dad had to convince us that it was actually Dad standing there and not his twin brother.  This was the one and only time I ever remember seeing Dad without his mustache or glasses.  Soon after he went back to his signature look and stayed that way much to our relief.

Since Dad has passed he has found subtle ways to say hello to me almost every single day.  I catch glimpses of him looking back at me in my son's face/chin.  A memory will pop into my mind of a trip we went on or something silly he would always say.  A song will play on the radio that brings him to mind.  Oddly enough I almost catch the clock at 11:11 or 1:11 every single day and for some reason I think of Dad.  He never seems very far away.  It is hard to explain, but it seems like his accident was so long ago and like it was just yesterday all at the same time.  In church its almost like I can still hear him sitting next to me using his church voice, getting frustrated by how high it is and then lower an octave and switching back and forth.  There are days I am sitting out at the farm and swear he should be walking through the door at any minute and asking what we'd like to have for lunch.  I feel happy, sad and angry all in one.  Happy for the time we had, sad for the time we should have had and angry that we can't have him back.

Grieving is an odd thing because we all do it so differently.  I'm still figuring this whole thing out.  When to be strong, when to be sad, when to hold on, and when to let go...  Most importantly right now I want to focus on being the kind of person Dad would be proud of.  Putting others before myself, being a good parent, loving my husband, and cherishing time with family because I think that truly is how to honor his memory.  That and buying myself an Almond Joy and eating it slowly so I can enjoy it.

Until we meet again, I love you and miss you "Old Man".  Happy Birthday!

Julie G.

Christmas

Julie G- 

As kids Christmas Eve was the same every year.  We would go out to Grandpa and Grandmas, have to sing at church and then go home and open presents!!!  That was our favorite part and after two long church services couldn't ever come fast enough.

I remember always leaving Santa cookies and a diet coke.  Mom always told is that Santa didn't like warm milk that had been sitting out.  So anyways after church we would head home but Dad would want to drive around and look at lights.  Nooooo we just wanted to get home to those presents.  Then we would get home and dad would find some I obnoxious Christmas music and we would be so antsy to open presents.  Finally it was time and one by one we could open them.  

Amazing how the presents are the only detail I barely remember.   Mom and Dad both knew Christmas was so much more than opening presents and I hope that I can pass that along to my kids when they are old enough someday!

Wine Festival Surprise

Julie G. and Sarah S. -

Watertown holds a wine festival each fall at Riverside Park complete with wine tasting.  Cousin Sarah and I decided we needed to go check it out.  I had mentioned to Dad I was meeting Sarah to go and he seemed interested but not enough to tag along. 

So Sarah and I went down and the wine was delicious!  We were about finished with our tasting when we see Dad outside of the gate waving and yelling "SARAH, JULIE!" at the top of his lungs.  So we walked over to him and asked if he was going to do some wine tasting too?  He said that he just came down to check it out, but wasn't actually going to do any tasting.  So we decided since we were about done we would go down to Riverview Water Trap and have 'just one'.  After several, mixed drinks (Dad: Seven and Seven, Sarah: Crown and Coke and Me: Limon and Diet Coke) a photo was in order.  We had just as much fun or more hanging out with Dad as we did at the wine festival!

 

Packer Sundays

Its now been over a month.  I'm not sure if things are getting easier or more difficult with Dad being gone.  I think about him constantly and there are times when it hurts more than others.  There are still little things that send me into crying hysterics and then slowly I get better and remember something funny he has said or done and I can't help but smile. 

I miss our trips, I miss his warm smile, I miss our conversation, I miss everything, but the one thing I really miss is Packer Sundays with Dad.  The funny thing about Dad that I really never thought about until this weekend is that I'm pretty sure that Dad wasn't in love with the Packer's, but of the idea of Packer Sunday.  He did care about them winning, but most of the time he was more concerned with having people over and entertaining while everyone else got to enjoy watching the game.  He would be in the kitchen for the first half of the game making up appetizers (usually cheese, sausage and crackers, a variety of veggies and almost always shrimp) and bringing them out as he was preparing to grill up hamburgers or brats for halftime.  As long as "TOUCHDOWN" was yelled at each score he didn't really even seem to ever be watching the game itself.  He also HATED having to watch commercials so more than once he would have us pause the game to come eat so we could go back and watch the game minus the commercials.  That drove many of us completely insane, but tolerated because Dad didn't give us a choice.

Packer Sundays just don't seem the same anymore.  Not only have the Packer's been terrible these past few weeks and stricken with injury, but the luster and shine that Dad would bring to Packer Sunday now seems dulled.

~ Julie G.

Hodging Things Up

Julie G. -

Two weeks have passed since Dad left us to go up to heaven and we are missing him more than ever.  As time passes I continue to think to myself - "oh I should call Dad and ask him...shoot...never mind".  I wonder if that will ever go away?

A few more memories of Dad have come to mind that I want to share.

Story #1 Control

As kids, especially with two brothers, we were always playing rough and getting into tickle fights.  Being the 1969 State Wrestling Champ, Dad always wanted his kids to be tough (unfortunately for him we are all weenies...but that is besides the point).   One thing I will never forget is picking fights with Dad, and having him grab us by the feet and tickle us mercilessly until we learned control.  That meant that he told us that he should be able to tickle our feet and we should be able to not laugh or squirm.  I remember being so proud when I had finally learned CONTROL and loved torturing others who hadn't yet learned such a thing.

Story #2 Hodging Things Up

There is no doubt my Dad was an excellent cook.  He could grill, cook on stovetop, bake, make an awesome stir fry, and pretty much anything else you can think of.  He loved making new things and including his own additions.  However, from time to time he would add a few "additional" ingredients that would make us ask...WHAAAAATTT are you doing!??

These add-ins which were his standard must go in everything included:

• mushrooms
• onions
• garlic
• peas

These additional ingredients became known as a cooking style called "Hodging Things Up".  Taking a somewhat normal dish and adding the above ingredients even when it didn't make sense.  I remember on more than one occasion scolding him that mushrooms DO NOT belong in Chili, not every dish needs to have peas added into it and that sometimes following a recipe exactly has the best turn out.  He didn't always like to hear this advice, but instead led to him creating his own dishes for everyone else and making a special "Julie-dish" void of onions and peas (probably just to get me to shut up).  I'm going to be honest when I say I have adapted my own Hodged Up way of cooking and almost always add a little flair to recipes that need a little oomph!
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I hope you will continue sending me stories that come into your mind as time passes.  No memory is too short or too silly to share.  I will keep them coming as they come to mind.

 

Dad's Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Dad has always been a "thrifty" guy (cough cough...some might use other words).  A few years back he decided he would no longer be buying Christmas Trees and that he would be taking them directly from his land.  Usually he found them up at the cottage and would bring them home and decorate them.  They generally always ended up looking like the scraggily Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  It sure bothered the heck out of me, but he was happy with it so who was I to say otherwise.

Last year the poor Christmas tree was up and a bit before Christmas was knocked over when the dogs were running around playing.  Just when I thought the tree couldn't look anymore pathetic, the ornaments on it were broken, the star light went out and it was a disaster.  Instead of ragging on the tree more, I decided I would do my best to still give them the best tree possible so I got up early and put the tree back together and salvaged what I could of this poor beat up tree.  I don't know what this Christmas will bring, but I will never forget Dad's Charlie Brown Trees.

 

Stories from Family & Friends

Jamie K. -

Although obviously, now, I knew his name is Roger, but, he will always be Mr. Suhr to me.

He was a quiet man, but he’d always be watching over, ‘his girls.’ Even though he was traditionally married to Ellen, he always gave girls whatever we needed, whenever we needed it…

As a known enemy on the high school volleyball court, future college friends, and teammates / roommates, the Suhr's including specifically Roger's only daughter, went from a Watertown athletic enemy, to a good family by the end of our schooling. (Seemingly led by a quieter man,  Julie’s dad always ‘had our back.’ Now, there is an irony in all of that because not only did he constantly support his daughter, but he also showed great support to all team members! (This was another great example of how he supported ALL his girls!)

 

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Jason S. - Cold Night

Stories from Family & Friends

Will F. -

One summer a long time ago (#weareold), Jason, Julie and Robbie were at my parents house in Minneapolis for some occasion or another. The squirt-guns known as "Super-Soakers" had just come out and I was a proud owner of one. Jason, Julie and Robbie were not so lucky, they were equipped with vastly-inferior firepower. So, when the squirt-gun battle ensued, I decide the best way to win was to blast Jason, Robbie and sweet-quiet-little-Julie right in the face and eyes. This was a brilliant strategy and worked-out quite well for me until a bit later. I was on the deck feeling pleased with my obvious superiority when Rog grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and put his face right up to mine. I don't remember exactly what he said but suddenly I went from a four-star general to a small boy face-to-face with a angry papa bear defending his cubs. Yikes! After that I had to give up my gun so that everyone else could have a turn.

 

Into my early-teenage years I think I was a little afraid of Rog after that. And maybe a little mad at him too. But I grew, matured and realized these feelings I had buried were wrong. I forgave Rog. Many years later (#holycrapwearereallyold!), I had the privilege of attending Julie's wedding and I got a chance to speak to the Bear. I asked him if he remembered that time. He said he did in a way I knew he felt ashamed. I told him that he was right to do what he did. "No, Willie, I could have handled it better, I lost my cool." No! I stood my ground and repeated my previous statement and added; I was being a little-jerk. I think he said ok and then we continued to celebrate Julie and Dicks union... I'm so happy I got to tell him that.

 

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Rebecca Z. -

 

Uncle Roger and my dad farmed together. One summer my cousin Rachel T. and I decided we would lower baler twine from upstairs in the barn with a sign that said "Pull me!" Uncle Rog and my dad did, even though they were milking down bel...ow. Well, that sure was fun, but then we thought we would tie the baler twine to a beer bottle filled with water. We thought it was extremely funny when either Uncle Rog or my dad would pull it over and water would dribble down on their faces through the hole. We used up all our water and had to go for a refill in the milk house. Rach and I thought we were pretty good pranksters by then. Little did we know there was someone better than us. We opened the milk house door and were met by Uncle Rog and the water sprayer that cleans the bulk tank. Needless to say we got soaked and the two farmers finished their milking...

 

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Karri A. -

 

I remember your Mom and Dad generously taking me under their wing when I first moved to Watertown. They invited me to so many outings and I remember so many fun nights with them. A few that make me laugh still are wrestling with you, your brothers and Dad after a night out...or the time we woke you up when we got back to your house (before the day of Prom)! So many laughs...your dad always had so much to give...open arms and warm heart.

 

Stories from Family & Friends

Erich Z. -

Not sure if this is really a specific story but Roger did quite  a bit of work on our house for us since we moved there in 2003. 

I just remember he'd say "I'll stop by when you are getting closer to needing the trim work done" and probably 3-4 times in the last 10 years he would show up on a Sunday afternoon on his way back from the cottage.   Good conversation was always had and at some point we would finally get around to looking at the work we actually needed done.  I would invariably have failed at making sure the drywall was flush with the door frames and so Roger would always have to make my lemons into lemonade.  The end results were always perfect.  And yet Roger would always be concerned about our satisfaction with his work.  From my perspective I can't imagine how anyone could be anything but impressed by the end product that Roger created.  He was like an artist.

Another time he stopped by and had an issue with an outboard motor he had.  We chatted for quite some time about fishing,  boats and so on and I remarked about a couple small pine trees he had in a 5 gallon bucket that I needed to get a few trees like that.  In an instant despite my objections he pulled the bucket out with the pines and told me to keep them, he had more.   Seems like that was just the way he was.  I imagine whether it was a pine tree, a piece of woodwork or the shirt off his back, he would probably freely give it away.  We should all be so giving.

At our house his craftsmanship and 2 pine trees live on.



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Julie G. -

Last year on December 21st we had a large snowstorm.  I had some time off from work between Christmas and New Years so I was headed out to the farm to spend some time with Mom and Dad.  Well I decided to head out there early and the plow hadn't been down the driveway.  Those of you have been out there know they live out in the country on a 1/4 mile long driveway.  I knew I shouldn't have even attempted to go down, but of course I did and got stuck at the first curve.

After a couple frustrating attempts to back out of the big snow bank I had plowed my Equinox into I knew it was time to call Dad to come save me.  I got ahold of him and immediately told me he would get the front end loader (our tractor) and get me out never once scolding me for being so stupid.  So I watched the house for signs that he was headed my way and waited and waited and then saw him slowly walk down to the barn, pull out the tractor and then wasn't coming my way.  I called again to ask what the hold up was and he told me that he needed to put the chains on the tires.  So I waited and waited some more, tried a couple more times to get the vehicle backed out while successfully getting it stuck even worse.

Finally he made his way up the driveway and we tried and tried to get my vehicle loose.  Finally the county plow had made its way out there and we hooked my vehicle up and pulled it right out plowed the driveway and I made it home.  When we made it back we weren't sure what to do and rather than just staying in like we should of, Dad, Mom and I loaded up in the truck and drove down to Casey's Saloon to celebrate making it up the driveway.

Stories from Family & Friends

Ezra S. - Its A Bass Story

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Keely L.

I have two memories to share. The first took place on a very cold September weekend In 2007, when I joined the fun for Suhrfest at your family cottage. There was a sign hanging in the living room area (if I'm not mistaken) that read Welcome to the Lodge. You changed it to read "Welcome to the Hodge". We waited a long time, maybe all weekend. I can't remember exactly. In the end, he had to be pointed out the sign that everyone thought was funny/clever. 

My most recent memory is last year in September 2012, Colleen, Jen and I came to visit you. We had a jam packed weekend which included a visit to New Glarus Brewery and Monroe Cheese Days. Your dad graciously offered to drive, so the four of us could enjoy ourselves at the brewery. Your dad had his own, back road route. He definitely got us lost but nobody seemed to mind. Or maybe it was just one of the most indirect ways of getting there. He mostly had us going in the right direction but with all the winding back roads, he constantly had to turn and adjust. Only once, did we have to turn around completely. When we got to New Glarus we definitely made your dad take lots of pictures of us.

 

 

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Rachel T.

 

Whenever I watch my brother John and my youngest daughter Jessica play together I'm reminded of how my Uncle Roger used to play with me.  I particularly remember one morning at my Grandma's house.  He was lying on the floor trying to watch something on TV and I wanted him to play with me.  So, I laid down next to him to "watch" the show with him.  Soon it became me poking and tickling him.  Which in turn turned into him wrestling me,  which turned into me getting a bit hurt, and running off crying (or maybe just crying to Grandma if I was losing).  That didn't last long, because soon I was "watching" TV with him again.  And the cycle started all over...poking, ticking wrestling, crying.  On this particular morning I have the feeling this went on and on until my Grandma yelled!  I don't ever, other than this one time, remember my Grandma yelling, but this morning she lost it!  Then I think she sent me to my cousins house, so Uncle Roger could watch his TV show in peace.   I will cherish watching my brother and daughter interact and fondly remember my Uncle Roger.

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Melissa K.

Well, since I've known your dad since I was probably 6 years old, I still can't call him anything but Mr. Suhr :). As far as memories go, I don't really have any specific stories about your dad that stick out in my mind, but I just remember him always being there when I was over. I remember always sitting at the kitchen table all together and he usually cooked us up some spaghetti or chili. I remember having spaghetti and chili at your house a lot and it was always so good! I remember all the crazy things that we did as kids... cheerleading in the balcony, making pillow people and putting on all kinds of makeup and walking around in the cornfields, and I remember that your dad was always there, laughing with us and always being so genuinely nice! I'm not sure if he ever had to sit in on any plays though, I think that might have always been your mom :). I remember coming over for birthday parties and singing the happy birthday song with everybody. As we got a little older I remember your dad being at our St. Johns basketball games and track meets and all the other activities we did. When I picture him now every memory that comes back to me he always has a smile on his face and that is how I will always remember your dad.

Welcome

If you have reached this blog you are more than likely a relative or friend of Roger Suhr.  This page has been set up to share loving (and funny) memories and stories about our Dad, aka Hodge.  If you have a story you would like to share please comment below and I will send you my email address. 

Roger W. Suhr age 62 of Watertown passed away on Saturday October 5, 2013

 

following a fall from a tree stand while hunting.

 

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday October 12, 2013 at 11 a.m. at St.

 

John’s Lutheran Church in Watertown with Rev. Clint Burrows of St. Mark’s

 

Lutheran Church in Richwood officiating. Burial will be at the Lutheran Cemetery

 

in Watertown. Relatives and friends may call at the Hafemeister Funeral Home in

 

Watertown on Friday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and at St. John’s Lutheran on

 

Saturday from

 

10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials

 

 to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Richwood, or to the charity of one’s

 

choice would be appreciated. Roger was a very generous person and was a

 

tissue donor, and because of this, others will be given the opportunity to see and

 

live a more productive, and

 

satisfying life. The Hafemeister Funeral Home of Watertown is serving the family.

 

Online condolences may be made at www.hafemeisterfh.com.

 

Roger William Suhr was born on February 5, 1951 in Watertown, the son of

 

Norman and Esther (Borth) Suhr. He was a 1969 graduate of the Watertown

 

Senior High School and was the state wrestling champion in his weight class in

 

1969. Roger graduated in 1974 from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

 

with a degree in Natural Resources. Afterwards Roger worked on the Alaskan Pipeline for a

 

number of years. On June 7, 1980 Roger married Ellen McFarland at St.

 

Bernard’s Catholic Church in Watertown. He and his wife farmed in the Town of

 

Emmet for twenty years. Roger was also a finish carpenter for himself and

 

various contractors in the Watertown area. He was a member of the Isaac

 

Walton League of America. Roger loved the outdoors, especially fishing and

 

hunting at the family cottage. He

 

enjoyed watching his children in various sporting events

 

and traveling together as a family.

 

Roger is survived by his wife Ellen, his three children, Jason (Kendall) Suhr of

 

Waukesha, Julie (Richard) Goss of Fort Atkinson and Robert Suhr of Watertown,

 

his mother-in-law, Ruth McFarland of Watertown, and two grandchildren,

 

Addison

 

and Amelia Suhr. Roger was very excited about his third grandchild that is

 

due in December. He is also survived by a sister, Jane (Dennis) Fischer of

 

Minneapolis,

 

MN and a brother Ronald (Penny) Suhr of Watertown, nieces, nephews, other

 

relatives and many friends. Roger was preceded in death by his parents and his

 

father-in-law Robert McFarland.