Sad day ... Grandpa passed today
Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2023 12:34 am
I lot who know me know I got my start into pocketknives at an early age. My Grandpa, Bob Siple, was sales manager at Queen Cutlery in the 70's and 80's before I was born. He left around 1985, but stayed interested in knives. He even made an attempt at his own line of knives, called Siple Cutlery. He took me around to a lot of the big knife shows in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee when I was young. He taught me to be respectful to adults, to stand up and look them in the eye and shake their hand. To be honest in dealing with folks. What to look for when buying or selling or trading a knife.
By the time I was about 15 my interest in knives fell away and I spent more time with friends and other hobbies, and went off to college. But after I got married and bought a house, I started to rekindle my knife interest, and my relationship with Grandpa took on new life. The 2 of us went to shows again, and bonded over our shared hobby. Nobody else in the family had interest in pocketknives, but the 2 of us did.
I enjoyed that we had something special that nobody else could understand. As he got older his health started to fail, and this past summer he expressed to me that his biggest desire in life was to go to a knife show again with me. We luckily had the opportunity in early August to go to a show in Titusville, PA that is only a 1/2 hour drive from home. We set up a table for all day Friday and Saturday, and he was so happy to be there and see folks. I'm glad we got to do that one last time.
My mom told me grandpa was not doing well, and yesterday I stopped by to talk with him. He was only able to stay awake for about 10 seconds, but he smiled when he saw me and I held his hand. Today he passed away at age 85, surrounded by loving family. He passed peacefully and without pain. I suppose there is no better way to go.
Here is a photo of us together from our last knife show together last month. I won't forget our many adventures together. Life lessons, aspirations, opinions, and funny stories. Days hunting together, dressing out game, and cooking it. And always talking about knives. I miss my grandpa.
By the time I was about 15 my interest in knives fell away and I spent more time with friends and other hobbies, and went off to college. But after I got married and bought a house, I started to rekindle my knife interest, and my relationship with Grandpa took on new life. The 2 of us went to shows again, and bonded over our shared hobby. Nobody else in the family had interest in pocketknives, but the 2 of us did.
I enjoyed that we had something special that nobody else could understand. As he got older his health started to fail, and this past summer he expressed to me that his biggest desire in life was to go to a knife show again with me. We luckily had the opportunity in early August to go to a show in Titusville, PA that is only a 1/2 hour drive from home. We set up a table for all day Friday and Saturday, and he was so happy to be there and see folks. I'm glad we got to do that one last time.
My mom told me grandpa was not doing well, and yesterday I stopped by to talk with him. He was only able to stay awake for about 10 seconds, but he smiled when he saw me and I held his hand. Today he passed away at age 85, surrounded by loving family. He passed peacefully and without pain. I suppose there is no better way to go.
Here is a photo of us together from our last knife show together last month. I won't forget our many adventures together. Life lessons, aspirations, opinions, and funny stories. Days hunting together, dressing out game, and cooking it. And always talking about knives. I miss my grandpa.
Prayers to you and your family