Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on June 15, 2006, 08:20:10 AM
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I thought I’d share with you the loss of a good man, whom I still consider my “Step Father”.
Pat McFall has been a family friend with our family since before I came into this world. He was born in 1926 to an Irish mother and father whom had emigrated from Ireland. He served in WW2 as infantrymen and was shot and wounded by the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge through the calf and sent home.
He raised his own family of 4 children in Mankato, Minnesota in the 1950’s and 1960’s and was employed by the Department of Minnesota as Flying Game Warden in the Bemidji, Minnesota. He flew a Cessna 185 tail-dragger (STOL kit) with wheels, floats and ski configurations. Once he flew the Governor of Minnesota and the Chancellor of Germany on a flight with a twin-engine aircraft. They hit “CAT” and the aircraft flipped and plummeted a thousand feet in a matter of seconds. Pat merely pulled the aircraft out and apologized to the passengers for the inconvenience of the weather. He was given a citizen citation by the governor of Minnesota for “A heroic deed” which he dismissed because he said he was “only doing my job, it was no big deal”.
Pat was a best friends best friend. Always friendly, willing to lend a helping hand. If you needed help, Pat would offer before you asked. Pat lost his wife in 1976. He and my divorced mother began dating in late 1976 and Pat moved into our “finished” basement (with his 17 year old son, my step brother and best friend to this day) They married in 1978. He was there for me during my very turbulent latter teenage days and kept me on the straight and narrow path, making sure I didn’t tumble off the cliff of reality when I needed a father figure.
In 1979, Pat retired from the DNR in Minnesota and my mother and he moved to Washington State where he began commuting back and forth to Ennis Montana building his dream cabin 7,000 feet in the Gravelly Mountain Range. He divorced my mother and remarried in 1985.
On June 2nd, 1990, my fiancé (now wife) and I married at Pat’s cabin, after getting the Justice of the Peace up to the cabin in a 4WD vehicle (The only way to access his mountain retreat then). Jim (Pat’s son, my step brother) was the best man, and Pat’s new wife Liz was the Bride’s maid.
Pat was a river guide for fishing Brooke and Brown trout on the famous Madison River for the last 2 decades of his life, serving guests such as the Governor of Texas Ann Richards. He was a strong man and in the best of shape, built like a bull at 75 years old.
In 2005 he was diagnosed with bone cancer and went from stout and strong 200 lbs. to 125 lbs. He died yesterday at age 79, June 14th, 2006.
We will miss you very much Pat. I loved you like a father.
(http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/10721717/154523161.jpg)
(http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/10721717/154523163.jpg)
(http://pic4.picturetrail.com/VOL767/2726312/10721717/154523166.jpg)
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My deepest condolensces Rip.
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Sorry to hear that Rip
Another one of the greatist generation has left us.
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Sorry to hear of your loss Rip. My condolences.
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My condolences to all that feel his loss.
Thanks for sharing that with us Rip
Mac
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Same age as my father.
My condolences Rip.
Regards, Shuckins
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> Rip. May you and yours find strength in this time of need.
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you and your family have my deepest condolences ripsnort
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Sorry for your loss, Ripsnort. Sincere condolences to you and your stepbrother.
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Prayers go out to you and your family. sorry for your loss.
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Sounds as though he lived a full and rich life Rip.
Salute and fair skies.
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My Condolences, Rip.
Always sad to see another of 'Americas Greatest' depart the scene. Raise your kids to be like him.. Honor his memory.
"Where do we find such men?"
It up to us, now.
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You were blessed with the company of a good man and friend. Cherish the memories as memories are all we can take with us.
Fair skies and tailwinds forever Mr. McFall.
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Pat McFall.
And may God bless and comfort you and yours in your time of loss, Rip.
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Very sorry to hear it. The world could use a few more like him. My condolences to you and to all his family. Cancer is a tough way to go though, at least he wont suffer anymore. I know that doesnt make it hurt less, but then I dont know what will except time. Even that's overrated. For what its worth, you all have my prayers and my sympathy.
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Sorry to hear so
My condoleances !!
Looks like he made a good impression in ur life.
And thats where he still lives.
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Rip,
prayers for your step-father, and what gratitude we have for those who have affected us so.
hap
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Sounds like a good guy.
Sorry for your loss.
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Sounds like a great man. ~S~ Pat McFall
Our prayers are with ya Rip.
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That was an excellent write up you did. I'm very sorry for your loss. He sounded like a great man.
The happiness of the drop is to die in the river."
~Al-Ghazali
-JoLLY
PigsontheWing.org
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Rip....very sorry. the world can ill afford to lose good men. We don't replace them fast enough.
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Sorry for you loss Rip, he sounded like a great Man.
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Thanks all for the compassion. It is heartfelt and it really felt good to write about Pat.
I'll be heading back next weekend for the memorial service. 20 hours of driving in 60 hours of time...not looking forward to that!
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
20 hours of driving in 60 hours of time...not looking forward to that!
WHAT? WTF!!??
This trip should be a pilgrimage to honor a man and his life. You need to quit griping about doing the right thing. You need to suck it up and sacarafice without whining about an imposition on your petty life to pay your respects to a man who made a difference in your world.
maybe someday, you'll be worthy of the same respect.
Though, somehow; I doubt it.
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Originally posted by Hangtime
WHAT? WTF!!??
This trip should be a pilgrimage to honor a man and his life. You need to quit griping about doing the right thing. You need to suck it up and sacarafice without whining about an imposition on your petty life to pay your respects to a man who made a difference in your world.
maybe someday, you'll be worthy of the same respect.
Though, somehow; I doubt it.
Hey, I was griping about the whole event, funerals, limited time overall including the driving, etc. Its not fun to cry. But then again, it will be full circle with his family, all of who I've grown up with during the summers when our families all got together. :)
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Then spend the time on the road reminicing about the happy times you had with him. Tell yer kids about what kind of man he was.
It's attitude Rip. And it's adjustment time.
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Sorry to here Rip.
Pat McFall
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Originally posted by Hangtime
Then spend the time on the road reminicing about the happy times you had with him. Tell yer kids about what kind of man he was.
It's attitude Rip. And it's adjustment time.
The kids know Hang, they fished off the dock he built on his private pond at 7,000 feet. He is "Grandpa Pat" to them.
I will be traveling alone this trip though. And yes, I will reminice Hang, I think that goes without saying, don't you think?
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My condolences
And
TAPS (http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/redir?src=singingfish&requestId=beeb445e3dc4ee51&clickedItemRank=4&userQuery=Taps&clickedItemURN=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rattler-firebird.org%2Fmedia%2Ftaps.mp3)