In preparation for Grandpa's funeral, we all submitted our favorite photos of him. These are the top picks. This is a random collection of them. Definitely not in chronological order. But I will do my best to identify what I can.
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| On the docks at Lake Powell. |
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| Volunteering at Golden Spike as the Governor of Arizona holding baby Lucas. |
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| With the Great-Grandkids at the Grand Canyon. Check out Miriam's smile in the back. |
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| Grandma and Grandpa on their honeymoon in LA. They were so cute! |
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| In Washington DC with the Honor Flight. |
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| 90 scoops of ice cream for his 90th birthday. |
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| Luke's photos of Grandpa for reflections. |
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| The family at my wedding. |
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| Last whole family photo. |
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| Grandma and Grandpa and their two daughters. |
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| Last Christmas opening presents. |
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| Lake Powell on the pontoon boat. |
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| Grandpa at Marc and Miriam's wedding. |
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| On the beach. |
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| At the huge 3 day party my grandparent's threw for the new year on the year 2000. |
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| Either right before my mom went on her mission or right after. |
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| My parents' wedding. |
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| Grandpa and his three brothers. |
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| An adorable honeymoon picture of my grandparents. |
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| Another wedding photo (maybe engagement?) |
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| The Caribbean Cruise we took as a family. |
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| Melanie's graduation? |
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| Huge rock in ruins that we visited in Peru (I can't believe they could move those without machinery!) |
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| On an elephant in Thailand. |
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| Marc's high school graduation? |
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| Sheila's wedding. |
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| Building a house? |
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| Building my parent's house. |
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| The honor salute as they were taking his body out of the VA home. |
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| Jane and Suzette in front of his casket. |
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| The brothers four: young... |
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| ...and old. |
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| Grandpa's guns in the army. |
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| He had a pet monkey on Morotai during the war. |
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| The brothers four. |
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At "The Brothers 4" reunion (plus the Elsey brothers). |
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| Grandpa on Bill's shoulders pushing David? up to "see what is around the next bend." I am at the bottom looking up. |
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| I love Grandma and Grandpa square dancing. |
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Curt and Jen's wedding.
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| On the elephant in Thailand. I asked Grandpa once if he could pick just one country to visit outside the USA, which one would he pick to see. He said Thailand. I want to go there someday. |
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| The four brothers and the Elseys? |
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Grandma and Grandpa at my parent's wedding.
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| The four brothers. |
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| Grandpa at one of the ceremonies for the Honor Flight. (The honor flight is a trip the veterans are taken on to Washington DC to honor them and show them the memorials. |
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| One of our favorite places in Utah--Goblin Valley. Here with Marc and Kayla. |
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| Goblin Valley with Curt, McKenzie, and Melanie. |
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| Volunteering up at Golden Spike. |
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Grandpa and I at Lake Powell?
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Climbing up the sandstone. |
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| I think this is one of the photos Grandma took of Grandpa right after their honeymoon. |
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At the WWII memorial on the Honor flight.
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| Matching wheelchairs more recently. |
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Adorable young couple on their honeymoon.
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| Grandpa and Tom, I think. Tom was so stooped over in his later years it is weird to see him so tall. |
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| Grandpa as a baby in his father, Elza's arms. |
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His army picture.
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| Right after their honeymoon. |
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| Again later in life. |
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| Posing at Lake Powell. |
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| One pose in Egypt. |
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| One of the first trips down to Lake Powell. |
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| Helping Braden drive the boat not too many years ago. |
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| Marc's baptism. My siblings and I were all baptized at Lake Powell. |
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| At the Mill. |
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| At the Mill. |
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| Army photo. |
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| The classic Lake Powell picture. The boat is going full speed ahead. Dad is holding Grandpa's legs and pants while he looks at what is wrong with the motor. |
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| Lucas's and Elseys. |
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| In Europe with the Armstrongs. |
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| Matching ice cream shirts with Grandpa. |
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| At Rainbow Bridge. Back in the day, Grandpa climbed to the top of that bridge and I thought he had a picture of him standing on the top. You are not allowed to do that anymore. :) |
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| At Sheila's wedding. |
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| I think this was at the party for their 60th wedding anniversary. |
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| Grandpa at one of the many family water parties. |
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| Dancing with Mady at Curt and Jenn's wedding. |
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Yellowstone in the winter. |
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| These last few are from my trip to Israel with my mom and Grandparents. Obviously, we went to Egypt as well. My poor grandparents lost their luggage on the flight over there for that trip. Grandma borrowed some of my clothes, but Grandpa had to make do. |
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| Crossing the Red Sea on the ferry. |
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| The big dam. |
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| And the lake behind us. |
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| On a sailboat with them. |
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| In Cairo. |
It is weird to think of a lifetime being summed up in just a few pictures. When I think about what my Grandpa has seen and done, it is amazing. The war, their travels, his work ethic, his capacity to build anything, his lifetime of service in the church and to his family. Not only that, John told me that Grandpa was one of the first people to make him feel welcome in the family. It is hard to say goodbye, but it is just goodbye for now. I love you Grandpa!
