Grandpa Schu was a one of a kind man.  Not all kids have the opportunity to live a football field away from their grandparents growing up; but I did.  Everything was an experience with him.  Whether it was milking cows, feeding bottle calves, running the tractor, or staying overnight with Grandpa.  He was the first one to take me to the salebarn.  First one to take me to the meat market and smooth talk the owners into giving me a free raw hot dog.  First one to give me a soda pop (it was like heaven in my mouth--A&W Cream Soda).  He trusted me even when I was twelve years old driving the tractor in the field by myself.  A lot of people don't think that is such a big deal, but he followed Jeff Long around in the field when Jeff was 33 years old!  He always came up with the greatest snacks in the world!  Grandma always made the greatest meals in the world and I don't want to downplay them, but the snacks Grandpa came up with were amazing (and I still eat them to this day).  So after Grandma would go to bed Grandpa signaled for me to come into the kitchen with him.  He got four slices of bread out, grape jelly (because you don't waste Grandma's Rhubarb jelly on a sandwich), and sharp cheddar cheese.  He told me that we were going to have a cheese and jelly sandwich?!?!  I was pretty skeptical because it just sounded weird, but I always went with what Grandpa said.  So we sat down, watched tv, and ate our cheese and jelly sandwich.  I could not believe how great it tasted!  So every time I came down to their house I would wait until Grandma left the room and ask Grandpa if we could have a cheese and jelly sandwich.

                A lot of people view their birthdays as the beginning of a new year for them personally.  Grandpa is different in that aspect because he is a farmer at heart.  His year begins by planting his crops and it ends after he has finished harvesting them.  So how fitting is it that the Lord decided to take him as the combines, grain carts, trucks, and elevators are being put away for the year?  God needed this great man to help begin his next harvest up in heaven.  I love you Grandpa.  Thanks for all the experiences, memories, and for shaping all of us into being the best that we could be.  Rest in peace International Harvester!