For one who was such a force of nature, my father died with a quiet dignity the morning of April 11, 2019. He was part of the Greatest Generation and did his bit in China, Burma and India. He graduated from Loyola College, Baltimore, MD, a Jesuit college and lived his life with an ethical code of conduct rarely seen anymore, with all the shouting and cursing and corruption. He was a builder by trade and I like to think he enhanced our community with homes and churches and community buildings. He could be a hard taskmaster but underneath he had a soft spot for the downtrodden, the underdog, and especially the children. He despised injustice and tried to right the wrongs he saw, particularly when he served in our state legislature.
My journey with my father wasn’t always smooth, but in the end it comes down to what it always comes down to - love. Plain and simple we loved each other. I will miss him more than I can say and my heart is broken utterly.
To My Father
By Georgia Harkness
A giant pine, magnificent and old
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power.
Within its fold birds safely reared their young.
The velvet ground beneath was gentle,
and the cooling shade gave cheer to passers by.
Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms”.
It fell one day.
Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.
But men who passed paid tribute – and said,
“To know this life was good,
It left it’s mark on me. Its work stands fast”.
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold –
This giant pine, magnificent and old.
C. Stuart Knudsen
10-17-1923 to 4-11-2019
My journey with my father wasn’t always smooth, but in the end it comes down to what it always comes down to - love. Plain and simple we loved each other. I will miss him more than I can say and my heart is broken utterly.
To My Father
By Georgia Harkness
A giant pine, magnificent and old
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power.
Within its fold birds safely reared their young.
The velvet ground beneath was gentle,
and the cooling shade gave cheer to passers by.
Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms”.
It fell one day.
Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.
But men who passed paid tribute – and said,
“To know this life was good,
It left it’s mark on me. Its work stands fast”.
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold –
This giant pine, magnificent and old.
C. Stuart Knudsen
10-17-1923 to 4-11-2019
For one who was such a force of nature, my father died with a quiet dignity the morning of April 11, 2019. He was part of the Greatest Generation and did his bit in China, Burma and India. He graduated from Loyola College, Baltimore, MD, a Jesuit college and lived his life with an ethical code of conduct rarely seen anymore, with all the shouting and cursing and corruption. He was a builder by trade and I like to think he enhanced our community with homes and churches and community buildings. He could be a hard taskmaster but underneath he had a soft spot for the downtrodden, the underdog, and especially the children. He despised injustice and tried to right the wrongs he saw, particularly when he served in our state legislature.
My journey with my father wasn’t always smooth, but in the end it comes down to what it always comes down to - love. Plain and simple we loved each other. I will miss him more than I can say and my heart is broken utterly.
To My Father
By Georgia Harkness
A giant pine, magnificent and old
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power.
Within its fold birds safely reared their young.
The velvet ground beneath was gentle,
and the cooling shade gave cheer to passers by.
Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms”.
It fell one day.
Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.
But men who passed paid tribute – and said,
“To know this life was good,
It left it’s mark on me. Its work stands fast”.
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold –
This giant pine, magnificent and old.
C. Stuart Knudsen
10-17-1923 to 4-11-2019
My journey with my father wasn’t always smooth, but in the end it comes down to what it always comes down to - love. Plain and simple we loved each other. I will miss him more than I can say and my heart is broken utterly.
To My Father
By Georgia Harkness
A giant pine, magnificent and old
Stood staunch against the sky and all around
Shed beauty, grace and power.
Within its fold birds safely reared their young.
The velvet ground beneath was gentle,
and the cooling shade gave cheer to passers by.
Its towering arms a landmark stood, erect and unafraid,
As if to say, “Fear naught from life’s alarms”.
It fell one day.
Where it had dauntless stood was loneliness and void.
But men who passed paid tribute – and said,
“To know this life was good,
It left it’s mark on me. Its work stands fast”.
And so it lives. Such life no bonds can hold –
This giant pine, magnificent and old.
C. Stuart Knudsen
10-17-1923 to 4-11-2019
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