Lloyd, Lavetta, Max, and Donna about 1980
I can’t let the day go by without mentioning my dad who, if still alive, would be 100 years old today. He (Lloyd Kull) always listed his birth year as 1916 but I know from numerous sources (census records, my birth certificate, conversation with my cousin Henrik) that he was born in 1913. Either way, we lost him too soon in 1984 on Easter eve. It was very much unexpected as he led an active life style, was in good shape, and (we thought) good health.
Like all good dads, he always put his family ahead of himself. He was kind, frugal (but always generous with what he had), had a terrific sense of humor, and was persistently optimistic. For most of his child-rearing years, he worked long (and late) hours in retail sales so we didn’t get to spend as much time with him as we’d have liked. It would have been easy for him to be tired and distant when home but he never was. It was common for him when walking by me or my sisters to reach over and pat us on the back or squeeze our shoulders. Both he and my mother showed us a lot of verbal and physical affection throughout our time under their roof.
I’m thankful that in his last years, the financial struggles of their early years had largely disappeared. He was still working at the end but was living in and loving the house that he and my mother built on part of my grandfather’s homestead. He loved puttering around in the yard and spent the afternoon of his last day doing that. He had four grandchildren when he died with another born a few years later. None were old enough at the time to have any real memories of him which is one the great regrets of my life. They would all have gotten along famously.
With the suddenness of his passing, there were a lot of things I would have liked to have said to him but never did. I still miss him but as a believer, I cling to the promise that one day we will be together in a place where “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Til then…..much love.
I hadn’t thought about Daddy in a while, so it was nice to see this posting and remember. I still, and always will, miss him. He was a wonderful father. Thanks for posting this.
Martha
Well, this is quite a nice tribute to your Dad, Max. He was, as you so well remember, really quite a guy and I have tons of very fond memories of my Uncle Lloyd going way, way back. I remember he had a convertible and a bulldog named Bull who rode around with him laying on the back of the folded car top racing up and down the unpaved state line raod kicking up dust as they went. I remember him serving in the army in WWII and how handsome he looked in his uniform. If memory serves me correctly he spend a lot of time in New Guinea while there were still plenty of hostile Japanese soldiers on the island. One of my favorite memories was from the 4th of July at Aunt Sis’, Uncle Paul’s, Henrik’s & Rosa’s apartment on Chicago’s south side. He delighted in lighting firecrackers and tossing them near us kids feet to tease us a little & see us jump. We pretty much lit some and tossed then at his feet too. One that Henrik tossed landed in Uncle Lloyd’s cuff and blew out the cuff on the bottom of his trouser leg. I don’t remember any injury other than what happened to the trouser. I well remember he worked retail when I was a teenager and could always be counted on for a good joke and some friendly kidding. I attended FSTC while Uncle Lloyd, Lavetta & Rosa were also enrolled students and got to see them at frequent intervals. After he and Lavetta got married and Lavetta was working in the college library, I used to pop into the library and holler out in a loud voice, “Hello my dear, sweet, OLD Aunt Lavetta” which probably wasn’t too nice but then I was still a dumb teenager. Your Dad was a wonderful man and loved by many, many people including yours truly. I think we were all lucky to have been born into the same great family as him and his parents and siblings.
Thanks for this beautiful tribute to daddy. I do miss him so much, especially when I have my grandkids with me. I think of how good he always was with kids and think how much the kids would love him. Bill’s story about daddy and the bulldog shed some light on some of my fond childhood memories. When daddy would take me to the baysitter as a child, sometimes we would stop at a house on Medaris Road and pet a little bulldog through the fence. Daddy would say someday maybe would could have one of our own but until then we would borrow that little guy to pet. It was always a treat to stop and visit with the little dog. I have no idea if the owners ever knew that we made regular visits to their dog. I was fortunate that daddy was working construction when I was in my teens so I did see a little more of him. He taught me so much about working in the yard and around the house. He was a great teacher and an awesome example of how to live your life. The world is definitely a better place because of him. Thanks again for the reminder of today.
Thanks for this. I’ll be reading it all to Mom (Rosa Wright) as she is no longer able to read for herself or speak but I know she can understand what I tell and read to her.
OH!! Reading the articles above sure brings back many memories and very happy memories I must say…
I am Mary Kull, Finley’s youngest daughter and was blessed to be able to visit with uncle Julius and aunt Merkee as I called her when I was a child.. Oh!! how I enjoyed those visits, when my mother and I would walk to their house for visits and to be able to go to the large birthday dinners they would have for uncle Julius in June each and every year… I can see him now playing his according and some of the others would be dancing… My mother would always say; Doris don’t you want to go and visit some of the kids in the neighborhood while I go see Uncle Julius’ family and I would always tell her that I wanted to go with her so I could listen to them talk about their old times and when grandpa and uncle Julius came to this country from Switzerland.. Even though I was just a kid I always still in AH as I listened to them talk… Why! I have no idea but I found that much more interesting than being outside playing silly little kid games and I’m so glad because I wouldn’t take anything for those wonderful memories…
I still see some of Aunt Hazel’s children from time to time and they always know where I live because I live next door to where I was born and raised on the Alabama and Tennessee Line Rd. just one mile East of Julius Kull’s old home place… If anyone is ever in the area they are more than welcome to come by for a visit and remembering BACK WHEN!!!! A great New Year of 2014 for everyone…
Doris Weiland dland40@ardmore.net
1424 Stateline Rd
Ardmore, AL 35739
Ph: 256-420-7466