Remembering Paw Paw

My heart is very heavy as I write this post in memory of Josh's, dad and the boy's Paw Paw, Joe Settlemeyer, who passed away at his home, suddenly and unexpectedly, on February 25.  We now know he died from aortic dissection, which is a tear in the inner layer of the large blood vessel branching off the heart.  It is a rare case but very serious in that 40% of people die immediately, and 75% die within 2 weeks. 

In lieu of knowing what to write or how to even begin, I am going to use Josh's beautiful speech he wrote for his dad. But first, here's the sweet speech Reid said at Paw Paw's funeral:

"Paw Paw was a very nice man.  I liked shooting the b.b. gun, feeding the chickens and getting the eggs.  I'm going to miss Paw Paw very much." 

It was so sweet to hear his little voice in front of many people.  He even wrote about it in his journal at school. Here is Josh's speech which he wrote and read so eloquently at the funeral:

Hello everyone, I'd like to say a few words to you this afternoon about the great man that we are all here to honor and remember - my dad Joe Settlemeyer. But first and foremost I would like to offer my deepest thanks and gratitude for the outpouring of help and support that I have seen in the last few days from our family and friends - both close by - and far and wide across the nation. I have been completely blown away and blessed by the immense help and support ....and prayers. And Manuel labor...... And advice...You know who you are.....

I'll start off my mentioning a few areas that most all of you will be able to remember dad by in one way or another. Dad was a proud San Antonio native, Thomas Jefferson high school graduate and baseball player. Dad went on to became a proud member of the fighting Texas Aggie class of 1971 - as a redass member of the corps of cadets. Dad was commissioned into the United States Air Force out of the Corps and served his country proudly as a navigator during the Vietnam War. He went on to become a devoted father - ...and then in turn, a very proud grandfather. 

My dad was the hardest working man that I have ever met. Whether it be in construction or working cows, fixing something or / building something he gave it 110% in everything that he did. I'd like to think that I gained a couple fine qualities from my dad, but most importantly I would say it was the value of hard work. Also the learning of different skills, and in turn will hopefully be able to pass on many a work ethic/skill traits to his 3 grandsons that he was so proud of. 

In speaking of some of the traits that he has passed along to myself, sister and grandkids, here are Some of the Major Life rules I know he lived by and passed on by example: 

Always use the term "we" when referring to the home team. 

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. 

All guns are loaded guns / and you're not just shooting the target. It's also what's behind the target. 

He would agree / that it's not good enough to just be proud of your ancestry. Live up to it. 

Always remember/and make time for people on their birthday. 

When help is offered to someone, don't quit until the jobs done. 

Know how to cook one good meal. 

Always try to buy all the Railroads in Monopoly. 

Every hat should serve a purpose. 

And finally, the definition of being a man is not being able to take care of yourself. It's taking care of others. 


It is difficult at best, to stand here before you to attempt to honor my dad in words. It is never an easy task to truly capture someones life in a speech as words often fall short of capturing someone's true spirit and motivations. But I must say that in the case of my dad, one huge thing that I admired about him was that in the many funerals we attended together he always had a great speech prepared. Very simply. To honor and appreciate a loved family member or friend. This is something that I will always remember about him. The organization of thought and appreciation to honor and plainly thank someone for their contribution to everyone else's life. I feel like he always felt privileged and honored to recently departed. Instead of attempting to live up to this example for him, now, properly for my dad, I'd like to ask everyone to just sit in a brief moment of silence to remember something about this man who affected our lives in so many ways.  




As I look into the chapel, I see both smiles and tears. The tears, although I see tears of sadness, I see tears of joy mixed with nostalgic smiles. For this is the way this man has left us, with a permanent mark on our memories and souls. 


In this silent moment of remembrance, I for one, see my boys, (my dads grandchildren) remembering Saturday or Sunday mornings going to the donut shop for a huge variety haul only to return and cook up a bunch of deer sausage and eggs in addition for breakfast. Or I also see the very looked forward to - and back on - trips to the ranch in Kenedy to check on the cows, and most importantly THEIR one particular cow that dad was raising for each boy. Nah - Really, if you asked the boys.....it was most importantly Paw Paw who helped teach them the value of the red Ryder BB gun. 


I see my fathers brothers and sisters, remembering all of the fun times growing up with the four of them under my grandparents watchful guidance, then in turn growing up sharing in keeping up with each other later in life. 





I see all my dads Aggie buddies from Fightin TX Aggie A&M, who I'm sure all have nineteen hundred and 71 great stories to tell from their invaluable time in the Corps. Such as maybe ....the time some of them locked themselves in their hole at the Corps dorms with some much sought after beer and tried to be verrrrrrry quiet only to get busted by a door banging, stick in the mud upperclassmen. Or maybe it was the countless games of 42 played late into the night. 



I also see my dads high school and childhood friends, who I'm sure loved thinking of of him as a scrapping running buddy in the early years. 



I do know that somewhere looking upon us from the vast beyond, my dad is smiling down on us here, and wishing us all well. Here's to hoping that we can fittingly honor his memory today. 

Thanks again and God Bless.