DIng DIng DIng

The above words in the title may not mean much to the average person but to me those are three words that will forever hold a special place in my heart.

A week ago today my grandfather, or as I would call him Papa (pawpaw), passed away. Even though the funeral has passed and our goodbyes have been said it still feels weird typing that out. My grandfather was a fighter and I was blessed with every single day I got to share with him because I was supposed to have lost him many years ago.

My grandfather had to work very hard for everything he got in his life and that included his fight to live his because God put before him many health issues. The first I can remember was when I was 5 or 6. Papa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and cancer of the common bile duct. Now no cancer is good cancer but this cancer was really no good and his chances for survival were slim. My grandfather received a whipple procedure. This procedure consisted of removing half of the stomach, the gall bladder, the common bile duct, the head of the pancreas, and a few random other things. Then in laymans terms what is left has to be rerouted to work again. This was 20 years ago. Back then this surgery had a much higher death rate and the stats weren't near as good. Even today, the overall survival after the whipple operation is only 20% at 5 years after surgery. My grandfather A) lived through the surgery, and B) lived on for 20 more years. He was a living miracle.

His battle didn't stop there. When I was a sophomore in college, I remember I was in a friends dorm room when my mother called to tell me Papa had been diagnosed with Esophagial cancer. Something to the affect that it was a long term affect of the whipple surgery affecting the nerve endings in his stomach causing acid reflux that caused irregular cells in his esophagus. (yes i could have totally just butchered that diagnosis, just retelling my memories here people. LOL) I remember how much he didn't want that surgery but being the fighter he was he was determined to live. He had he esophagus removed and in its place the put a portion of his colon.

A few years later I remember going to the hospital when he had a heart stint put in. And less than a year ago he suffered a heart attack, battled a flesh eating bacteria, and the list just goes on until his body could no longer put up the fight my grandfather was giving it to live.

And while yes clearly I know all these details, these facts are not the memories that make up my grandfather in my mind. My grandfather was an amazing man. He loved his family very much. He was one of the hardest working people I know and most definitely was one of the smartest business and investing men I knew. He was strong willed and as i have said several times before a fighter and a miracle. He had the memory of an elephant. Was outspoken. A republican. An oil man. Loved the color red. He loved dogs, and practically had a zoo of squirrels he fed on the regular. He had a love for food. This list could go on......I have a world full of amazing memories. All the holidays, birthdays, graduations, and Sunday trips to visit. The summer I worked in his office. The time him and my grandmother visiting me while I was in college... My poor grandfather rode in the back seat of my little two door coupe car as I weaved in and out of traffic. haha still cracks me up. Looking back I should have probably slowed down a bit.

But my favorite memories are those at KY lake. Swimming, boating, fish fries, huge firework shows, and saving the best for last-fishing. My grandfather loved to troll fish and he loved taking his grandchildren out to fish with him. And when out on the water and it was time for all of us kids to let out our lines he always said "ding, ding, ding".

I know I probably rambled on too long, and wrote to much or too little about this or that but death is a hard thing and the loss of my grandfather is bittersweet. I know he is in a much better place. He is no longer suffering his ailments or pain. I want to thank God for making my grandfather a miracle. For giving him the will to fight so hard and so long because I cant imagine the last twenty years of my life without him. He will be very missed not only by me and my family but by so many other people that were touched by his life here on earth.

And I can just hear God telling him "ding ding ding" because Thursday afternoon was my grandfather's time.......

Here is the obituary from the paper.

C.A. Robinson, 78, of Evansville passed away Thursday December 9, 2010 at Angel River Health Care.

C.A. was a veteran of the US Air Force before graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 1957 with his Bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering. He started his career as Petroleum Engineer with Magnolia Petroleum Co. in Salem, IL, after a few years he moved to Kingwood Oil Co. as Division Engineer and then became Division Manager. Later he went to work at Lohmann-Johnson Pollution Control and Production as Operations Manager and Manager of Temple Operating Co. in Evansville and retired as a Petroleum Consultant, Independent Producer and Drilling Contractor.

He developed and was president of many companies including Robinson Engineering, Robinson Engineering and Oil Co., Inc., Indiana Petroleum Contractors, Inc., Indiana Drilling Company, Consumers Gas Co., and Egyptian Gas Storage Corp. He was director for Old National Bank for over 20 years, Indiana Oil Co., and Ohio Valley Wireless.

CA belonged to many professional and business organizations that included Registered Professional Engineer in LA, KY and IL, past president of the Indiana Oil and Gas Assoc., Vice President of Independent Oil Producers Assoc., he was a member of the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Petroleum Engineering of AIME, the International Assoc. of Oilwell Drilling Cont. and a member and director of Illinois Oil and Gas Association and Kentucky Oil and Gas Association.

He belonged to many social and fraternal organizations such as Evansville Country Club, Hadi Shrine Temple, Reed Masonic Lodge, the 32nd Degree Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Jesters, Kennel Club, the Evansville Museum and he was the Director of the Boys and Girls Club of America. He was a lifetime Trustee for the University of Evansville and a Charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

CA is survived by his wife of 55 years Kate (Glenn) Robinson; son and daughter-in-law Glenn and Monica Robinson of Evansville, their children Chuck Robinson, Ann Robinson, Robert Robinson, John Robinson, Ellie Shakun and Olivia Shakun; daughter and son-in-law Cindy and Chris Mitchell of Clay, KY, their children Christy Mitchell, Sara Huelsman husband Nick and their son Carter Huelsman; nieces Amy Jefferies and husband Brian and Katie Warms and husband Wade. C.A.'s grandchildren will be honorary pall bears.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 pm Sunday, December 12, 2010 at Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel, 800 S. Hebron Ave., Evansville, IN 47714. Funeral service will be 10:00 am Monday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN with Rev. Mitch Gieselman and Rev. Rob Kell officiating.

Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Boys & Girls Club, 700 Bellemeade Ave., Evansville, IN 47713, Capital Campaign at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 5130 Lincoln Ave., Evansville, IN 47715 or University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47714.

The family would like to thank the staff of Angel River, Dr. Stephen Koewler and staff, and special friend and caregiver Ruby Sunderman for their kind and compassionate care of C.A.

Condolences may be made to the family online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com