In a lot of different ways the past couple months have been very hard for me. Besides losing my grandpa, I've been doubting myself creatively, and less and less sure of my place in the world. It may sound strange, but one thing that has consistently cheered me up and helped me to focus lately has been reading my grandpa's obituary. There's something about the way it captures the sweep of a life I knew very well, reminding me what an amazing guy he truly was, that makes me feel like everything is going to work out.
I've excerpted the obituary in its entirety below, but emphasized my favorite parts if you just want to skip to those.
Milton Edmund Reppert Milton E. Reppert (84) passed away on New Year's Day, 2010 after a brief illness. Born in Washington D.C. on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12, 1925, he was the only child of Mary Eagles and Edmond Hugh Reppert, a colleague of Admiral Nimitz. They moved to San Diego, where Milton grew up and graduated from Pt. Loma High School. Milton attended Georgia Technical Institute, on a G.I. scholarship, after serving in Germany during WWII. He earned a degree in electrical engineering there and also attended San Diego State. His artistic abilities allowed him to earn a degree from The Art Center in Los Angeles and land a job painting insignias on airplanes for a living. Around this time he met his wife, Winnie, on a blind date, and it was "love at first sight". Milton's big break came when he joined the Independent Press-Telegram as a commercial artist in 1952 drawing away until 1961. He later joined the American Advertising family in the City of Industry where he commuted 36 miles a day by bicycle. He happily returned to the Press-Telegram in 1978 until his retirement in 1990. Among other things, Milton created the caricatures on the cover of Tedd Thomey's Stepping Out section. He had an inimitable style, which made his drawings a hit with readers. When he retired from the Press-Telegram his fellow employees turned out a six-page layout of lauding letters and commendations. Milton began serious bicycle racing in his 40's and continued to race and win, well into his 70's and belonged to several bicycling clubs. His trophies and ribbons adorn his garage. He cycled thousands of miles every year, and always rode as many miles as his age on each birthday while in his 70's. Milton was a creative designer and meticulous wood worker, sculptor, carpenter , fountain builder, painter, mobile maker, a true jack-of-all-trades and master of most. After retiring from the Press-Telegram, Milton and Winnie became world travelers. They visited every state in the Union, traveled to every continent and sailed all of the seven seas. He is greatly missed by all and remembered for his humble, good-humored nature, integrity and quick wit and his keen eye for the beauty life has to offer. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Winifred and four children, Hugh Reppert of Naselle WA; Susan Glass of Corpus Christi TX; Ann Webb of Grover Beach CA; Nancy Reppert of Long Beach CA; and Janet Underwood of Rossmoor CA., and six grandchildren, Austin, Ian, Molly, Callie, Walter and Andrew.I don't think that I could fabricate a life better lived than his. I hope some of it rubbed off.
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