Thursday, March 13, 2014
Uncle Joe,
In his life of 89 years he had seen and experienced this world change in many, many ways, and many aspects,,
Born in 1925, and as a mere youngster of 4 years, experienced his entire childhood in the shadow of the Great Depression.
(Oct 1929 - 1941)
Can you imagine the character build that had on him, just that experience alone, - your entire childhood.
I believe those stories of walking uphill %u2013 both ways, and stories he shared about working for the company store held some true grit.
Talk about experience and change.
Then World War II, (1939 - 1945) being wisped away as a teenager by your country, being sent thousands of miles away to fight for freedom, to defend the nation on the heels of the depression, which you had just experienced firsthand ,
Yet marching into Europe towards the end of Hitler's reign, and now expected to head to the Pacific to fight the Japanese.
Talk about experience and change.
Uncle Joe,
He got to see everything we take for granted today develop, come to fruition........
Light bulbs, changed from Incandescent, to Halogen - to LEDs,
Radios go from transistors of the 1950's to the digital Bose systems of today....
Nothing better a Buccos game over the ole radio,,, He loved them%u2026
Ice boxes to Refrigerators .. Think of that.
Black and White TV came out the year after he was born, and color TV between 1946 and 1950... ... and He got to experience HD..TV%u2026 What we take as for granted,,,,
Talk about experience and change,
Not only did he experience change, he also made change,
Uncle Joe changed a town,
When he became the sole proprietor of the place we all came to know as the "Rennerdale Market" in 1950.. He brought a 6 foot plus likable demeanor to a town which grew with him and around him for 20 plus years before he stepped away.
Everyone knew Joe, He fed more people on credit ,, "Put in on my Tab" --- a tab that clipped into that thick metal binder and was reconciled when payday rolled around. You shopped there, everyone shopped there, No Giant Eagles, No Shop n Saves, back then ...your local grocer was the man. That was Uncle Joe.
Remember "Rennerdale Round Steak%u201D "Tube Steak%u201D%u2026 That water filled coke cooler?
He knew everyone in town, big and small ......short and tall,
Your First and Last name didn't matter %u2013 He never used it at all.... He tagged everyone with a nickname %u2013 a reference name, some name that he' remembered you by..
His biggest change was when he met the love of his life Joy.
His trips from South Fayette to Noblestown are ones of true love and storybook lure, add skipping school to attend her school play at West Allegheny , or to even just carry her books home from school.. That's some distance covered,,, That was true love..
They were married when he came back from the war, and remained married for 60 years, until she was taken from him a mere 8 years ago..
His love never ended with Aunt Joys' death, thus proven by his travels to that cemetery over time%u2026
He saw lifelong family and friends weaned away over the last 20 years and yet, He also saw US sitting here, grow into the backside of life as well. Talk about experience and change.
He loved a visit and a good conversation, from baseball to the worlds news,,
He made it a point to stop and visit his friends and family through thick and thin, all the way until they had taken his license away. Talk about experience and change.
Lastly,
Although he didn't have any children of his own, I want to say he did...
He had Us, All of US.
His Nieces, Nephews, and I'll include our kids behind us%u2026.. He Loved Us ALL.
He got to see us grow into adults and raise the next generation, and even more.
Guess what, he had nicknames on them too..
His generosity, His love for his wife, for family, and for friends were real%u2026.
That was and is Our Experience,
His passing is now Our Change -
