December 8, 1925 - September 16, 2014
Henry A. Maday, age 88, of Minneapolis was taken home by our Heavenly Father on September 16, 2014 to join his "bride" Phyllis; parents, Constantine and Catherine; brother, Chester and sister-in-law, Helen; sister, Emily Land, and brothers-in-law Chuck Land and Gordon Lillygren. He will be dearly missed by daughters, Diane (Kent) Jones, Janice (Philip) Schmidt, Karen (Gary) Nesheim and Christine (Robert) Schmidt; 9 grandchildren, 28+ great-grandchildren; sister, Patricia Lillygren, and many more loved ones and friends. In the words of his daughters, "Daddy was the best".
Grandpa Maday died in his sleep yesterday afternoon.
My heart is so very heavy. I loved him beyond words.
I lived with Grandpa and Grandma as I finished high school. The best part of my childhood, by far, was while living with them. I had never felt so unconditionally loved. I give most of the credit to my grandparents for making me who I am today (the good parts anyway).
Grandpa was strict and tough on the exterior, but he had a loving heart and became more and more of a softy as he aged.
He was very proud of me growing up and never let any other person influence his opinion of my character. He was proud of me as an adult and let me know it in so many ways. He always told me how I picked an amazing wife and that I had the three most loving, well behaved kids ever.
When I was successful at something, Grandpa would give me the OKAY sign with his right hand. I looked to my grandpa for approval. When I saw the OKAY sign from my grandpa, I knew I had done good and made him proud. My graduation and wedding days I received the most emphatic OKAY hand gestures ever.
Grandpa was a constant jokester. For example, when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old, I stubbed my toe and told Grandpa how bad it hurt. He then punched my arm and asked, “How about now?” I told him, “My arm hurts more than my toe.” Then he punched me in the leg and asked, “How about now?”, and I said, “Everything feels great now!” He laughed and said, “You catch on quick.”
He loved his wife in a way that is so rare in today’s world. Grandpa and Grandma were a funny couple, too. I remember Grandpa antagonizing Grandma all the time and Grandma would just yell at him, “Knock it off, Henry, or I won’t bake any pie!” He’d quit antagonizing her long enough to ensure he’d get desert. After dinner, he was back to his old antics.
Yesterday morning, I told Tammy (my wife) we needed to drive to Minnesota next weekend, no matter how my health would be on that day, because I felt time was drawing short. We hadn’t seen him in a long while and Grandpa wasn’t doing well. I wanted to be able to see him before it was too late…no matter the toll traveling would take on my body.
I wish so very much that he would have waited for us to see him to say goodbye and for us to share one last hug (he’d always say, “Men don’t hug. They shake hands.”, but Conor – my son – and I were always able to sneak in a hug the last few years). Grandpa wasn’t able to wait for us to come. I guess he had a date with Grandma that could not wait.
After Grandma passed away in 2009, Grandpa’s health turned poorer and he wrote to me numerous times, “Please pray for me, Mike. The golden years are sure rusty.”
I hope he and Grandma are enjoying the streets of gold together today.
Uncle Henry was my Dad’s (Chet) younger brother. The three of us went on various fishing and hunting adventures. Uncle Henry always liked to joke and kid around. As a child I remember spending some afternoons at his gas station, which was great. The one event which stands out most for me is when my Dad asked Uncle Henry to dress up as Santa Claus and make an appearance at our house. It was Christmas Eve. He parked down the street from our house so my siblings would not see him exiting a car. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong yard to cut through. A large dog, with no real Christmas feelings toward Santa, took off after him. Fortunately, he escaped unharmed and was able to appear at our front door. Years later, my Dad told me about Uncle Henry’s yuletide experience. My thoughts and prayers go out to my Uncle Henry’s large family. I know he and my Dad have a lot of catching up to do.