There hasn’t been much to celebrate lately but.....

Justacommeman · April 30, 2020 2:05PM

My father passed away in Nov. He was our rock. My Mother passed a few years ago. I’m now the oldest in the family. My Dads house was in Michigan. He paid $12,900 for it in 1962 and he lived in it until he passed. He told me a story a couple weeks before he passed at lunch that he actually walked away from his closing in 1962 because his house payment was going to be $82 instead of $79 as quoted. He couldn’t afford the extra $3 with a wife and two kids at home. The lenders decided to honor the deal and the rest was history. He was a tremendous role model and man. There might have been men as good as my dad but none was a better man. He literally taught us the value of a dollar.

Fast forward to today. We fixed up his house and listed it the weekend before the lockdown. We actually had 4 offers over ask the first day. I choose the one while I felt had the best chance to close. I picked a couple who both worked for Quicken Loans. From the comfort of my home In Southern California we closed on my Dads house today. Sold. The end of an era.

Please feel free to post something coin related that make you smile. This pile does it for me

mark

jesbroken · April 30, 2020 2:11PM

God Bless your Dad and your family. I wish you all the best. I'll just smile looking at your coins, very nice.
Jim

joeykoins · April 30, 2020 2:13PM

Beautiful story. Almost 60 yrs. In the same house, wow. Sounds like your dad was my dad's age, he would have been 88 this last Feb. He passed in 2012. I feel for you. Buddy
♥️

hammer1 · April 30, 2020 2:16PM

1-You were very blessed to have a father like that.

2- For you to realize it makes it even sweeter.

oih82w8 · April 30, 2020 2:18PM

Great story about something that was old will be new again, both the house you grew up in and the spirit of loss with your parents.

Gold beaned old gold in old PCGS holders!

I can't touch that!

ElmerFusterpuck · April 30, 2020 2:25PM

Yeah, had to do the same a couple years ago for my dad, and it sold fairly quickly too. He lived there for nearly 40 years and yes, it marked the passage of time. I took pictures inside the empty house two days before it wasn't ours. I still feel the vibe when I look at them today: a house full becomes empty, so it can become full again.

Time does make everything get better, but it's different for everyone. Hang in there.

Nice coins too!

I had those last couple of sentences in there, but somehow they didn't post. So the additional edit.

Justacommeman · April 30, 2020 2:27PM

@hammer1 said:
1-You were very blessed to have a father like that.

2- For you to realize it makes it even sweeter.

Thank you. I posted the coins to be compliant but here are the real pics I wanted to post

My folks right before moving into the house and my Dad on the right from Germany

Forgive me its a very emotional day

Walkerfan · April 30, 2020 2:29PM

God Bless you and your family.

Time catches up to us all.....eventually.

Sounds like you owe a lot to your dad.....Your success in Life and, more importantly, as a human being.

I think about my dad a lot. He was so good to us growing up, in every way......A provider, a teacher, a confidant, a protector and a friend.

I used to cry at the mere thought of losing him, although, I know he won't be here, forever, nor will you or I for that matter.

Love them, as much as you can, while they're here and remember and appreciate their legacy, when they're gone.

I've lost some zest for coins, lately.......it's likely just a stage but I will always appreciate and admire what I do have. Peace.

Tom147 · April 30, 2020 2:30PM

My condolences on your loss. Lost both my parents 6 months apart back in 97. My dad bought me a Whitman Lincoln folder back in 64 when I was 8 years old. ( I still have it ) We shared a love of collecting. He gave me his collection after mom passed. I think he knew what was coming. I believe he died of a broken heart.
Unable to post pictures. I'll compliment you on your gold. Very nice.

Dave99B · April 30, 2020 2:34PM

Amazing Dad. Amazing story.

Love the mess of gold too!

Thanks for sharing. The world could use a few more people like your Dad. Salt of the Earth.

I don’t seem to have a coin from 1962, but I do have one from 1963. I’d like to post it in honor of the family home. The memories will live forever in that house.

Let us know what year your Dad was born, as I’d like to post something in his honor as well.

Take care -
Dave

Justacommeman · April 30, 2020 2:38PM

Thanks Dave! My Dad was born in 1937 and my Mom in 1939. It’s really what got me interested in collecting Walkers as it was a great design and I could incorporate their birth years

m

SkyMan · April 30, 2020 2:38PM

I'm glad you've got some good memories! (... and some sweet gold!)

First US spacewalk. You'll note that about 1 o'clock to the spacecraft nose is Point Concepcion, and just above the padded section of the hatch is part of the L.A. area.

Dave99B · April 30, 2020 2:47PM

In honor of your precious Dad:

In honor of your precious Mom:

Take care -
Dave

SanctionII · April 30, 2020 2:49PM

My sister and I experienced the same thing when our father passed away in Denver in 2014. He had been a widow for 18+ years as our mother passed in 1995. Less than a year before he passed we had to sell his home of almost 50 years (he had previously had to move out of the home and into an assisted living facility). The process of selling his home (where my sister and I lived for a majority of our childhood years) was interesting.

Selling the family home generated multiple strong emotions, both positive and negative. So also did seeing our father decline and eventually leave both of us behind while he journeyed to whatever comes next (we also are now the senior generation; and that itself both positive and negative).

The entire process of losing one's parents and selling the family home, particularly if it happens after you have passed 50 with adult children of your own, is something that gives you a perspective on life that others not in your situation simply cannot appreciate.

Welcome to the club Mark and best wishes.

P.S. One joyful memory about the sale of my dad's home is related to finding coins on the property. The home was built in 1927. My parents bought it in early 1966 from a couple who had purchased it in 1928 or 1929. At the back of the property was an area of dirt that was used as a vegetable garden. A few months after my parents bought the house and we moved in my mother was working in the garden. While turning over dirt she found a dirt encrusted cent. She came into the house and gave it to me so I could clean it up and put it into my Whitman album. I washed the dirt off of the cent. After doing so I found that the cent is a 1913S Lincoln cent that is probably at least an EF. That cent filed the 1913S hole in my Whitman album and today it sits in my Lincoln Dansco album. Based upon my mom finding the 1913S cent I suspected that other treasures lurked on the property. So when my sister and I were a day or two before the closing of the sale of the home I arranged for a guy with a metal detector to show up and hunt the property. After he did so the haul included a silver Roosevelt dime (I gave it to him) and probably 20 Indian Head cents and pre 1959 Lincoln cents. Those cents are also now in residence in my collection. Not of high $ value but of high sentimental value (I was hoping that the hunt would reveal a buried metal box containing a number of MS 1927D Double Eagles; alas my hopes were dashed) .

Smudge · April 30, 2020 3:08PM

Funny how the older you get the smarter your parents get.

3keepSECRETif2rDEAD · April 30, 2020 3:09PM

Condolences...I absolutely love that your pops and his buddy are using the dinner table as an ashtray...those were the days of MEN!

Boosibri · April 30, 2020 3:27PM

Touching post Mark. Sorry to hear of your loss.

Justacommeman · April 30, 2020 3:56PM

@3keepSECRETif2rDEAD said:
Condolences...I absolutely love that your pops and his buddy are using the dinner table as an ashtray...those were the days of MEN!

One last bit of snappiness. My Dad was living on borrowed time towards the end and it was a struggle to walk as he was getting transfusions every week. However, his last two remaining wishes were to come out to California one last time and to help walk my daughter down the aisle on her wedding in Vermont. She was married on October 5 and he passed away on November 5. He was in great pain. The traveling was brutal to him. He never ever ever complained. At the reception he sat in a chair near a heater and held court. Everyone came up to him and paid their respects. It was like a scene from The Godfather. His last trip to California never happened as the Vermont trip took everything out of him but I was able to come to to see him one last time. I took him to his favorite dive eatery.

My Dad, daughter and me

My Dads first and only Hollywood Party. He came out with my son. He had the time of his life and swam in the Pacific. It was the first time he saw it.

My Dad and daughter

kaz · April 30, 2020 4:03PM

Thanks for the story Mark. So many good memories. I'm really touched.
and here's a coin from the year they moved in

ThreeCentSilverFL · April 30, 2020 4:04PM

@Justacommeman Sorry to hear about your fathers passing. My dad passed late 2018, I still think of him every day. It is fortunate to have strong, loving parents. I continue that with mine.

Walkerfan · April 30, 2020 4:18PM

@Justacommeman Great family pictures! Thanks for sharing.

That's a fine collection of classic GOLD!!

coinlieutenant · April 30, 2020 4:26PM

Nice post Mark. Enjoyed reading it.

No Headlights · April 30, 2020 4:26PM

@SanctionII said:
My sister and I experienced the same thing when our father passed away in Denver in 2014. He had been a widow for 18+ years as our mother passed in 1995. Less than a year before he passed we had to sell his home of almost 50 years (he had previously had to move out of the home and into an assisted living facility). The process of selling his home (where my sister and I lived for a majority of our childhood years) was interesting.

Selling the family home generated multiple strong emotions, both positive and negative. So also did seeing our father decline and eventually leave both of us behind while he journeyed to whatever comes next (we also are now the senior generation; and that itself both positive and negative).

The entire process of losing one's parents and selling the family home, particularly if it happens after you have passed 50 with adult children of your own, is something that gives you a perspective on life that others not in your situation simply cannot appreciate.

Welcome to the club Mark and best wishes.

P.S. One joyful memory about the sale of my dad's home is related to finding coins on the property. The home was built in 1927. My parents bought it in early 1966 from a couple who had purchased it in 1928 or 1929. At the back of the property was an area of dirt that was used as a vegetable garden. A few months after my parents bought the house and we moved in my mother was working in the garden. While turning over dirt she found a dirt encrusted cent. She came into the house and gave it to me so I could clean it up and put it into my Whitman album. I washed the dirt of of the cent. After doing so I found that the cent is a 1913S Lincoln cent that is probably at least at EF. That cent filed the 1913S hole in my Whitman album and today it sits in my Lincoln Dansco album. Based upon my mom finding the 1913S cent I suspected that other treasures lurked on the property. So when my sister and I were a day or two before the closing of the sale of the home I arranged for a guy with a metal detector to show up and hunt the property. After he did so the haul included a silver Roosevelt dime (I gave it to him) and probably 20 Indian Head cents and pre 1959 Lincoln cents. Those cents are also now in residence in my collection. Not of high $ value but of high sentimental value (I was hoping that the hunt would reveal a buried metal box containing a number of MS 1927D Double Eagles; alas my hopes were dashed) .

The treasure was inside the home all those years you spent there. I enjoyed your story

Cameonut · April 30, 2020 4:29PM

Mark - sorry to hear of your loss and the end of an era.

Brings back memories for me. I lost my dad in 1992 when I was 38 - I feel I missed out on so many fishing trips, talks, and advice. Lost my mom in 2016 at age 90. I think of them often.

Our cottage in southeastern Wisconsin was the one property the family enjoyed since 1960. I live 1200 miles from there so keeping it was not in the cards. So I ended an era with that cottage in 2017. Sad to see it go, but I have tons of memories and lots of photos.

BryceM · April 30, 2020 4:32PM

Moving, and perfect.

PM sent.

TennesseeDave · April 30, 2020 4:47PM

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like he was a great man. Awesome group of gold/gold. That would make me smile a lot.

Walkerfan · April 30, 2020 4:59PM

Here are a few that make me smile!

Jimnight · April 30, 2020 5:32PM

BigMoose · April 30, 2020 5:35PM

Boy, did you bring back some powerful memories for me. Mark, I truly feel for you. My dad passed away in 2004 at age 78. Finest man I have ever met. He hit the beaches on Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945 and somehow managed to get off that island without a scratch. Put in 38 years with the Penna. State Police as well. I don't know how he found so much time to spend with me but he did. Things have just never been the same since he passed on. But, no matter when they passed on, we can all treasure many wonderful memories of them and keep them in our hearts and minds.

bombtech25 · April 30, 2020 5:58PM

@Justacommeman said:

Check out those tables, the faces. This scene plays out nightly and eternally across the world. Very cool image.

david3142 · April 30, 2020 6:16PM

Thank you for sharing this touching story. I am sorry for your loss and it must be hard to sell the house in which you grew up. Here’s a Walker I think you’ll enjoy:

1Mike1 · April 30, 2020 6:16PM

Thank you for sharing your family and memories with us Mark. Sorry about the quality of my pic. These make me happy. I was up to the 50 gram piece until the availability went flat.

Paradisefound · April 30, 2020 6:27PM

Beautiful family story RIP for your wonderful parents your soul never say goodbye to

hchcoin · April 30, 2020 6:28PM

Sorry for your loss. Sounds like a great man. Thanks for sharing.

cnncoins · April 30, 2020 6:41PM

Mark,
Sorry to hear about both your mother and father. I lost both parents 99 days apart in 2012. My father was a WW2 Navy vet and had a military funeral with a 21 gun salute. I learned much from him in many ways.

jwitten · April 30, 2020 6:53PM

Great story, and great group of coins!

bolivarshagnasty · April 30, 2020 7:19PM

I'm fortunate to still have my '37 model. Catfishes the local river with 65 lb test line. Don't want to mess with the small fish.

jedm · April 30, 2020 7:41PM

Great story Mark, no apologies necessary that's for sure. This post stirred up similar memories and emotions for many of us about our dads. I wish EVERYONE could be blessed like those of us who had/has a father who was/is someone we could say the kind of things you had to say about yours.

CaptHenway · April 30, 2020 9:22PM

Where was the house in Michigan? My parents bought their second house in Redford in June of 1956. We moved in on July 4th. They paid $16,900 for it because their fifth kid was coming in August and they needed a bigger place. Ma lived there until we had to put her in a home in 2017. Almost glad she is not still at the home.

Justacommeman · April 30, 2020 9:36PM

@CaptHenway said:
Where was the house in Michigan? My parents bought their second house in Redford in June of 1956. We moved in on July 4th. They paid $16,900 for it because their fifth kid was coming in August and they needed a bigger place. Ma lived there until we had to put her in a home in 2017. Almost glad she is not still at the home.

Westland

m

CaptHenway · April 30, 2020 10:16PM

I remember when they built the mall there. Heck, I remember when they built Wonderland Mall in 1960.

Justacommeman · April 30, 2020 10:30PM

@CaptHenway said:
I remember when they built the mall there. Heck, I remember when they built Wonderland Mall in 1960.

Too funny. We used to go to Jacobson’s in Dearborn to see Santa (closer and nicer) but we couldn’t afford anything there so Wonderland is were we actually did our shopping. The irony is my current CEO’s family owned Jacobsons when they were solvent.

Hope you and your family are doing well Tom

FYI real estate in Westland is hot. Who knew.

m

TomB · April 30, 2020 11:55PM

I'm sorry to read of your dad's passing, but glad he was able to stay within his home for so long. There may not be (m)any men who surpass him, but from what I know of you in our interactions (on the boards and in person) he would readily say that you are his equal.

SurfinxHI · April 30, 2020 11:57PM

Great tribute. Mahalo for your story. Glad he got to walk your daughter down the aisle too! Awesome!

skier07 · May 1, 2020 12:42AM

My mother was the last one in my immediate family to pass. She miraculously made it to her only grandchild's Bar Mitzvah. May your father’s memory be a blessing.

air4mdc · May 1, 2020 2:04AM

Thank you for sharing your memories with us, you have passed along a beautiful story. I’m very sure that your dad is looking down and smiling at you. Extra special he made your daughters wedding
The picture you posted of your dad in Germany reminds me of my dad. He was in the Army with Elvis Presley, the were “Spearheads”, we keep that picture out in full room view all the time.

jmski52 · May 1, 2020 5:10AM

Mark, those are nice family pictures - thanks for sharing them.

Namvet69 · May 1, 2020 5:27AM

We honor our genealogy by sharing these memories. Peace Roy

johnny9434 · May 1, 2020 5:46AM

@Smudge said:
Funny how the older you get the smarter your parents get.

Yes they did and so did we

ricko · May 1, 2020 5:48AM

Mark, your post speaks eloquently of both your love for your father and his personal qualities. Knowing you only through this forum, I believe you carry those same qualities. I, too, am the patriarch of the family, since my Mother passed three years ago. My Dad passed long ago in 1968. We are fortunate to have had such parents. Thanks for the insightful personal history. Cheers, RickO

asheland · May 1, 2020 6:36AM

Great thread, Mark.
I lost my dad early in 2016.
Here’s my dad and oldest niece:

And one of my favorite designs on US coinage, and a favorite from the collection:

There hasn’t been much to celebrate lately but.....

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