Grandpa Edward Herbst, January 23, 1920 - December 17, 2011

Grandpa getting a hug from little Kylan

Grandpa & Grandma walking with Kylan

Family photo with Grandpa (pre-Talia)

Grandpa meeting Talia for the first time

Grandpa Herbst passed away on December 17th shortly after being hospitalized with an infection.  He will be missed by all of us.

The romantic in me thinks Grandpa passed away because he sensed his wife and the fact that she has passed almost exactly 3 years ago.  Grandma's favorite time was also Christmas, and what more appropriate time to be reunited with your wife than her favorite time of year. 

The last several years have been hard ones.  Grandpa Herbst had been suffering from dementia and placed in a home to be taken care of.  He rarely knew who we were when we visited.  Often times he would be stuck in the 1940's or 1950's and so we would get a glimpse of Grandpa as a young man.  And that young man was sure a happy & loving with a good sense of humor.  (One of the last times we visited he kept goofing around with Kylan and calling him "Charlie".  It was pretty funny!)
He will be best remember for the many stories he loved to tell.  One of the all time favorites is when he met Babe Ruth while sitting in a bar.  He had been serving during World War II and was in New York waiting for some friends.  Babe Ruth came in and sat down next to him and chatted with him and bought him a drink.  By the time Grandpa's friends had arrived Babe had left--and of course none of his friends believed him. 

As far as romantic, Grandpa would also tell us how when he first brought his girlfriend home (future wife Audrey) his Grandmother told him in German that this girl was the one.--And of course she was right!

He also told us about his first house in Theinsville and how the bathtub and toilet were so close together that if you sat on the toilet, your feet would be in the bathtub. 

Grandpa & Grandma had much pride and stories in their houses.  They loved their home in Arlington Heights which they moved to in the late 1950's.  The movers brought their stuff from their spacious home in Thiensville to the home in Arlington Heights--and said to them, "How can you move from that spacious place in Thiensville to this tiny home in Arlington Heights."  Grandpa & Grandma took much pride in their new house adding a mud room and a special air system that you will not find in other homes.  Grandma had tastefully decorated each room and took pride in her work--for example she had done needlepoint work on each of her dining room chairs.  They were beautiful!

While it is sad to see Grandpa go, it also makes me happy to know that he can be reunited with his wife.  I know he missed her.  She was his best friend.  Grandpa--you will be missed, but I know we will see you again some day--and you can tell us your many wonderful stories again.  We love you!