Thursday, April 10, 2014
Hank along with Clementine have been our (Bart and Elaine Knudsgaard) neighbours the past 15 years.
We did not know Hank during his growing up, parenting, or working life years and our thoughts and prayers are with Hank's family and friends from those years.
Raising our three daughters (Katelyn, Emily, and Riley) in Cranbrook with our closest family three hours away had it challenges.
We will forever remember and be grateful for Hank for his involvement in our girl's lives.
How we remember Hank:
• Hank's plaid shirts, suspenders, and blue pants;
• Wooden mice, wooden donkeys, wooden planters all build by Hank;
• Fixing lawnmower, fixing chainsaws, and building mechanical contraptions;
• Trapping skunks and shooting crows in the neighbourhood;
• Listening to Hank and Clem jamming with friends, seeing Hank and Clem dressed up for square dancing, watching Hank and Clem pull out and return home with the 5th wheel trailer on their musical adventures and trips;
• Saturday morning phone call from Hank telling us he found us the perfect lawnmower for a bargain up in Gold Creek or the tool that I did not own and if it go quick it might be still there.
Are some of our many memories of Hank!
Hank was someone who if you needed help he was only seconds away, even if you didn't ask for help, he had a way of just knowing. Hank picked up Emily and Riley from school on many days that Elaine or I were running late. Hank and Clem babysat Katelyn, Emily, and Riley. This is where they probably ate the most hot dogs and macaroni and cheese and they fondly recall this!
In 2012 we tore down and rebuilt our backyard fence . In my (Bart) typical fashion I was over my head but did not see the need to ask for help . Hank was already starting to lose his strength at the time. I could see him watching me work with great curiosity . This project took me at least a couple weeks. Hank had told me he was worried that the metal poles supporting the wooden fence would sway too much in the wind . One day I arrived home from work there were homemade reinforcement braces attached to the fence, compliments of Hank. This was Hank, when there was a need you did not need to ask Hank for help. Hank just jumped in and did it!
As many of you know Hank and Clem would sometimes have words for each other and some days Hank and I would talk while Elaine and Clem would talk. Despite these days what we saw as neighbours was when Hank and Clem were making music, getting ready to go square dancing, gathering firewood (of which I have never seen so much of at one home) they modelled great partnership and care for each other. I asked Clem about some of her most special memories and she said singing the song "Loving you" and Hank's favorite colour being blue. She said she would be wearing blue today for Hank's memorial service.
The last few months when Hank became very weak Clem would call on us to help get Hank from downstairs by the wood stove (which was Hank's favorite spot sitting his Lazy Boy Chair) up to his bedroom. We could see how hard it was for Hank to have to accept help and be seen as so dependent. Hank did not want to bother or burden us, but there was never a question in our minds of what we had to do, that is was so obvious to just step in and help as this is what Hank would have down for us.
Hank and I had a few one on one hospital visits . Hank even under the most difficult circumstances maintained a positive outlook. He talked of his children, his grandchildren, Clementine, and Clementine's boys all is a caring way. He would always say I want to go home, I want to go home, and when Clementine would arrive he would greet her with widening his long open arms
Hank was a very special man! He will be missed.
Bart and Elaine Knudsgaard
Neighbours
