Grandpa Joe

My heart is breaking over the loss of my Grandpa Joe.

He was— and always will be—my “bonus” grandpa. He didn’t have to show up for us, but he did. Over and over again. We were so blessed to have him in our lives when we moved into our home on Lincoln Drive.

He was there for all the little things, but also for the big ones.

When I was a stay-at-home mom and didn’t have much adult interaction, he was someone I could always talk to. He kept me from going crazy during those long days. We would talk about church often. He went every Sunday, early in the morning, before anyone else was even awake. He would tell me about his upbringing—how his mom was Catholic and raised him with strong values.

I used to try to convince him to come to my church. I was young and a little naïve back then. But we had such honest, respectful conversations about faith—the good and the bad—and I’ll always cherish that.

Whenever I was struggling with things involving my mom, he would just listen. He never judged me. Not once in the 16+ years I knew him. With him, I only ever felt loved—and I loved him just as deeply.

He did so much for us. Every week, he would take our trash cans down and bring them back up. He helped with our home addition, took down trees in both the front and backyard, and anytime I asked to borrow tools or equipment, he would just show up and do the work himself.

That was just who he was.

He was also incredibly modest. I remember telling him how amazing he was, and he quickly brushed it off, saying I didn’t know the “real Joe.”

But I did.

I knew him. And I loved him. There is nothing he could have done in this life that would have changed that.

We’ve been praying and fasting for him. I even put his name in the temple. I just wanted one more family photo—with him and Sandy in it.

As a photographer, you’d think I would have made that happen.

But I didn’t.

I always told myself I wasn’t ready, that I didn’t like how I looked… and now that regret will stay with me.

We have photos of him helping build the house, and a few with Zack—but I wish so badly I had just one more.