It was an honor and a blessing to have met Earl at his 90th birthday party a few years ago.  So, it is with sadness and tears to say good-bye to Uncle Earl in this life, but also with great peace and joy in my heart to know he is reunited with his beloved, Virginia.

From the pictures, video and stories I learned that Earl and Virginia were a vibrant couple living out their dreams and living life to the fullest at that.  They had a special bond that lasted more than 61 years, which makes that alone unique by today's marriage standards.

Longevity in life and marriage is rare.  God has a way of teasing us with knowing the blessings of valued relationships, strong family ties, many adventures and good memories that seem to go on for many a good years with no end in sight - a very fortunate path in life's journey. But God also doesn't want us to take for granted that he needs to call us home one by one someday. No one can tell when that moment happens, though there are clues sometimes when it's close at hand.

Perhaps, one clue may have been when Uncle Earl experienced a stroke, though Virginia was dealing with health issues too - her heart and loss of memory. When you get a wake-up call, it's usually harsh and never easy to figure out, but Earl and Virginia had each other, and they managed as well as they could with what they had. Despite these setbacks, both knew life would not be the same, and maybe it hit home a little harder when God called Virginia to the heavens in March 2009. After 61 years of marriage, Earl lost his true love and devoted wife. The time and space in this earthly life would never be the same for Earl. Healing from this type of loss was painful and slow, if healing could ever even happen. He missed his girl who was now far from his reach.

He would bravely try to put on a smile, give a little laugh or try to find some contentment with the hand he was given since this was a different kind of new life - being a widower. But he knew it was too empty to bear even with so many memories - and many good memories at that. Now these memories felt wasted, especially being alone to think about them in the quiet of the night where he could hear the stillness of a dark room as he tried to sleep. He lost his joy in losing Virginia, and it seems some purpose too, with his physical disabilities putting limits on what was once a strong, sturdy, stoic invincible man with the recognizable deep voice. 

And so it seems God put forth in Earl's weariness of living life, that maybe, his few years of emotional suffering had allowed him to finally find his peace, and that he was ready to be called home anytime soon. Earl, himself, wished it with Godspeed, so he could be with his Virginia again. His love and desire for her went beyond this lifetime, and he was drawn to complete his soulful journey again by leaving this earthly home at sunset and being at her side at the new sunrise in heaven above. So he departs shortly after 1 a.m. on the last day of the year, 2012.

I think of Earl as being a very lucky man -
• he went peacefully, knowing he was loved and appreciated
• he left with no hesitation or reservations, and that
• he had accepted to move on to the new journey awaiting him.

He was not a strongly religious man, as Virginia would tell you, but he was close to God than most, for even at the end, he knew he needed God's help to make his spiritual transition. He also needed God, the matchmaker, to be close to his Virginia. And so, “Buster” as Virginia would call him, said his silent good-bye's and thank you's to all that loved and cared for him, and made it all worthwhile for as long as it lasted. But now, he was being called to the light, and left in one last breath.

The story of Earl does not end there. In fact, it begins with the threads and strands of each person he touched in this life and left them with fond memories to be shared with good stories to be woven into a picture that makes you laugh and smile. And you will find that this story of Earl is not complete without his beloved - Virginia.  So off they go together now, reunited in their love forever – two special souls with God's grace, and many hearts left behind that will miss them.

While I am saddened by the news of my Uncle passing away.  I also understood that he longed for the time he could join the love of his life, my Aunt Virginia.  
Here are a few of my fondest memories:
Back in 1993, while in my early 30's, my parents and I were visiting Aunt Virginia and Uncle Earl at their home on Lake Mille Lacs.  The activities were laid out much like the visits when I was a child of going to dinner and playing cards afterwards.  We would chat and catch up about life while dinner was prepared.  Later, Mom, and Aunt Virginia would clean up the kitchen and then Dad, Uncle Earl, and the gals would retire to the next room to play 500/cards.  Except on that day, Uncle Earl decided that all this catching up deserved a smoke break and a cold beer.  I remember him stating, "Well Roger, I know your mom and dad gave up drinking, but would you join me for a beer?"  I smiled my answer and out the door we went.  While Uncle Earl and I sat outside side-by-side looking at the lake, he pulled out two cigars and we lit them up.   I'll never forget how we talked boating and fishing while we puffed away at those cigars and had a couple of beers.  We only sat there for 20 or 30 minutes, but I swear it was like time stood still for both of us.  Some words came and went, but many moments passed quietly while we listened to the sounds of the lake.  I realized how the two of us shared a love of the water, talking about fishing, and enjoyed each other's company with a cigar and a beer.   Reality broke the silence, and the family tradition of playing cards beckoned us both back inside.  
A few years ago, I felt very fortunate to have been contacted by Gloria about a party she was planning for Uncle Earl.  Although my Uncle Earl was in tougher shape due to his second stroke, I had another chance to see him again.  The first trip to the Elim home was in February 2010 for his 90th birthday.  After nearly twelve years apart, he cried as he recognized and knew who I was when I walked in the door to the party room.  Later that day, I told him  that I was sorry for not staying in touch better, and that I loved him.  This time we both cried.  And so it began, we were lucky to celebrate his 91st and 92nd birthday with good laughs and fond memories.  Though we didn't share a lot of verbal communications, we seemed to understand each other better than we ever had.
This past November 3rd, I caught the "unofficial" MN State Record Musky (56" length x 29" girth) on Lake Mille Lacs - "Earl's lake."  The Star Tribune also did an article on December 7th detailing the catch.  My wife, Jeanne, put together a framed collage of pictures showing me holding that monster, and one releasing her back into the water so she could swim another day.  We knew Uncle Earl could appreciate this once-in-a-lifetime moment, She suggested that we make the trip to see him before Christmas.  So on December 17th, we drove up to meet Gloria and Janet at the Elim home to visit Uncle Earl and share the story of my big catch, and bring him some chocolates which he seemed to love.  After reading the article aloud to Uncle Earl, I asked him if he ever caught one that size, and he said "No" with a shake of the head, but he smiled seeing one that big!  I could tell that this story pleased him, and it was decided that those pictures would look good on the wall in his room for him to look at or share with visiting friends.  It was a wonderful visit complete with lots of smiles and big hugs. I was so happy that we "talked fishing" once again.
Before we left, I told my Uncle Earl catching that big special fish,on "his" lake, that I would use some of his gift money to have a replica made.  "That way," I told him, "every time I looked at the fish, I would think of him."  He cried as he nodded his approval, and we shed our last tears together.
 
I will always be, very thankful for our last visit together.  Most of all, I am most grateful for my Uncle Earl.  I will miss him.

Our Uncle Earl is someone that we will all remember lovingly and those memories started when we were just small children.  I remember getting the cows in with Earl in his 1932 Ford and riding on the Farmall tractor with him.  That was a big deal to a little boy, especially when he let me steer the tractor.  Uncle Earl was a busy man, but never too busy to take special time with all of us kids.  That meant a lot, to all of us, and forged relationships that continued throughout his life.

Everyone who knew Earl knows how much he loved fishing. Over the years, most of his family fished with him on his favorite lake, Lake Mille Lacs. He approached fishing, like he approached life, with a certain humor.  For example, when Earl saw a new 12 foot, Lund fishing boat for the first time, he asked, "Who is this little teaspoon for"?  It belonged to Jeanie, our daughter.  Forever more, that 12 foot Lund was affectionately referred to as "The Teaspoon".

Earl loved his wife, Virginia, and his family and friends.  Tlhey were all welcomed with delight, a warm heart, and a generous hospitality.  Earl always enjoyed hearing and telling a good "Ole and Lena" joke and with his steel memory, he had a pile of them that he could recite when opportunity presented itself.  His jokes were told with such great gusto and enthusiasm and his laughter was so contagious, that every joke had everyone laughing, sometimes til they cried. 

Earl will be remembered for the good man that he was.  A faithful, honest, man that loved life and lived life with dignity and style. We are all privileged to have known you, and we will love you and miss you always. 

God Bless,

Lowell, Barbara, and The Carlson Family (Shakopee, MN)

I remember sleep overs at Uncle Earls and Aunt Virginias in St. Paul, MN.  We went out to movies and they made me feel like a prince!  Fishing at their home on Lake Milacs was a speed boat ride while chasing leaping walleyes. I loved Uncle Earls stories and warm heart. May God Bless you Uncle Earl!

OBITUARY

Earl W. Hill

11 February, 1920 – 31 December, 2012

Sunset Funeral Home and Cemetery

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