So long, Grandpa John

Remember when I told you about growing up in North Dakota?  Well, one thing about living in North Dakota as a military transplant, is the fact that likely none of your family lives there.  This was the case for me.  Military families have a tendency to befriend others and assimilate a sort of family with those around them; Grandpa John and Grandma Bonnie were this for me.  They were the closest thing I had to grandparents growing up.  They lived on Highway 2 between Larimore and the Grand Forks Air Force Base.  From my first memories, I remember only fond experiences at their house.  It was beautiful - lots of white (the exterior, the carpet, walls); their home was like a fancy palace to me.  They were the most kind-hearted people.  They were educated and always supported my education.  They attended my kindergarten graduation - I remember being so proud to count, read, and tell time in front of them. 

Grandma Bonnie always had bars or some sort of dessert on hand, ready for any passersby.  Grandpa John always had handfuls of vitamins he'd share (whether we wanted them or not).  I used to swing on the tire swing and watch cars pass along Highway 2 when mom and/or dad were inside chatting with them.  It was a good time.  Grandpa John and Grandma Bonnie had their Ham Radio licenses, and I'm pretty sure that's why my family became so close to them.  The summer after my mom moved to Minnesota, and I lived with the Rohls on the base, I drove up to the Peace Gardens to take the Ham Radio test because I knew it would make Grandpa John happy.  He escorted me to the test site...and back to their camper when I didn't pass the test - he was devastated.  I hope he found joy in knowing I made my mark in other aspects of technology.

When Grandpa John and Grandma Bonnie used to go on cruises (two a year), they always shared their experiences with us when they returned.  That's probably why I was so excited to go on a cruise my senior year of high school - I wanted to experience something I'd always heard was so fantastic.

Grandpa John passed away last week after a long battle with cancer.  I still have a card at home from Grandma Bonnie she sent a couple months back.  She mentioned how happy she was that I was doing so well, and how Grandpa John was fighting cancer again.  The funeral is tomorrow in Bismarck, North Dakota.  I wish I could make it to give Grandma Bonnie a hug.

I'm a firm believer that God puts people in our path who will forever make an impact - and Grandpa John was certainly that for me.  He was a hard-working man.  He was passionate about the military, ham radio, traveling, and his family.  He was a good man.  I'll miss him and always remember him fondly.  Rest in peace, Grandpa John.

John E. Stiles

May 17, 1930 - September 26, 2012

Obituary

Summer Vacations

Growing up, I didn't really have a summer vacation.  My parents were Ham Radio operators.  Dad's call sign is N0HAN; mom's is KB0MGV.  When I was homeschooled, my mom taught my sister and me Morse Code.  She was upgrading her Ham Radio license and learning Morse Code was required.  I don't remember much (more than SOS), but I'm glad I had the experience.  Anyway, back to family vacations.  Pretty much every summer, we ventured three hours from our house near Larimore, North Dakota, up to Dunseith, North Dakota for the annual Ham Radio Fest.

I loved every year when I saw the giant turtle.  It meant the gardens were just a few minutes away.

"World's largest man-made turtle" was "erected as a novelty" in 1982, welded together from over 2,000 steel wheel rims by, George Gottbreht.

Other vacation highlights included the clock, the sunken gardens, and the Peace Tower.  Every year, the garden is planted differently, so seeing the different flower patterns was truly exciting.  I was homeschooled and lived in North Dakota, folks.  Almost anything was exciting to me.

The Flower Clock plantings change every year.

A narrow channel flows through the center, the 49th parallel, of the formal garden.

Most years, I remember sleeping in our family car for the couple of days we were there.  I think we slept in tents a couple of years.  Once (that I remember), a bear was rumored to be in the campgrounds.  This is probably why I don't like camping now.  Who would want to die on their family vacation by being eaten by a bear?  Not this girl.  So, that's one of my childhood summer vacations.  The others were spent at Family Camp and Junior Camp, camping trips put on by our church.  They were about as fun as camping at the Peace Gardens.  Ok, they weren't.  They were worse.  Even as a little kid, I didn't want to be in nature for more than a couple of hours.  When, in fourth or fifth grade, I took three suitcases to Junior Camp, I should have come to grips with this.  I enjoy the comforts of home and being inside.