My Dad,
Growing up he always had one project or another going on around our home. Some took a lot longer than others. He was a creator and loved to build things. It gave him a sense of accomplishment. His proudest moments were when he was surrounded by his entire family at a holiday dinner. He was never afraid to say "I love you" those were his last words to me. His final  project, one that took a lifetime to build and his biggest achievement was the family that he built. He taught me how to love, how to work, and how to respect others. He made me the man I am today. He is my hero.

My Grandpa
I can remember being 5 or 6 years old and walking on the beach in Cape Cod with my grandpa. He said to me, Always look down when you're walking on the beach, you never know what you will find. Moments later, I found 2 quarters!!! What a coincidence!! How could they have gotten there??? I was so excited. My younger self cherished this memory on the beach with Grandpa. 

Of course I still cherish this moment, but now in a different way. I realize now how much my grandpa's character shines through in this memory that he had essentially created for me. Now that I'm older and if anyone knew my grandpa, they would know that he was the one who dropped those quarters in the sand, and he did that just to make me happy. That was what he was all aboutseeing his grandkids smile, laugh, and take on the world. You could tell when speaking to him that he held onto every word you were saying and truly cared. And interestingly enough, he was able to come up with a life lesson despite any situation you were in and add in some tough love.

My grandpa will be missed very much but I know he is with us in some way or another beaming with pride, drinking Seltzer, and cheering us on as we go through life.

My Dad,
He was a man of few words, is how you'll NEVER hear my Dad described. He had his opinions and was never afraid to share them. But what I'll remember most about my father were not his words but the way he made us FEEL...We could always feel his presence and his love. It was always there. There was never a doubt. You could see it in his eyes and in the way that he would look at us and smile. 

Our Dad could be tough as nails and he had that special look that let you know you were in for it. The look was actually worse than the punishment. But Dad also had a soft sentimental side that he was never afraid or embarrassed to show. He never hesitated to tell us how much he loved us or how proud he was of us. And it is simply impossible for a man to love a woman more than my Dad loved our Mom. 

He taught us life not by spoiling or coddling but letting us figure things out and letting us learn from our mistakes. And we collectively made many of those....Yet we always knew we had his support. Right or wrong, he always had our back. The work ethic that my brother, sister and I have today is a result of my father leading by example. He had a unique parenting style but it worked. The character of his six beautiful grandchildren are the validation and proof. 

At times Dad worked multiple jobs at once to support our family but he always made time for us.  As hard as he worked, he always put his family 1st. He always made each of us feel special in his own unique way. Dad's jobs though did not end at the workplace. He had many "Home Projects" that he started and well... let's just say he took his time in completing them.....We're talking YEARS for some but eventually, they all got done (Well most of them).

Dad's most cherished times were when our families would all get together. You would see him sitting down and just taking it all in while  beaming with pride.  Proud of his family and what he watched them become. And I believe in my heart that he is watching us now with that same prideful smile.  

In one of my last conversations with my father I told him about some words I put together the night before during a bout of insomnia. And I said to him...
"Sometimes it takes a tragedy for us to see with clarity"...His response was that is so true  son (he always called my brother Keith and I son) and it's very profound. And it has now become so clear to me that the simple things in life are really all that really matter.  Health, Happiness, and a Close Loving Family. And I think nothing would make Dad happier than if his passing brought our family even closer than it already is. 

Dad would frequently say to us
"Be a job, large or small, do it right or not at all"
Well Dad, in the job of life, you did it right. 
You did it right as a husband,   as a father,   as a grandfather,   as a brother,   and as a friend. 
You did it right 
I love you, Neil

I'll be missing my dearest friend Neil. We grew up together, fresh out of high school at the Western Electric Plant in So.Kearny. We became tradesmen & ultimately supervisors, where we enjoyed lots of perks. W.E was the best place to work because every trade known to man was incorporated on its grounds and we got to experience it all. 
Also sorely missed is our buddy Jim Dean who died last year.  We all worked together & complimented each others skills.  As time wore on we kind of disconnected due to raising our families.
But as luck would have it, we reconnected in 2010 and spent many happy hours at the beach house on LBI over the last several years.  I'll be missing our get togethers, where our wives played Rumikube and we guys talked about our good times at Western Electric.

OBITUARY

Neil Henning

February 18, 1941 – November 10, 2017

Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home

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