My most precious memory of my father was the last year we shared together when he was in the Nursing Home.  I saw him twice a week and we became very close.  I will miss him and so proud of the love he has for all of his family.  Growing up, I never saw a moment when he did not show anything but love and adoration towards my Mom.  He will be truly missed.  Love, Your Daughter Elaine

My dad was a gruff old guy with a very tender heart.  He loved his babies fiercly and I always knew that and will hold onto that as I mourn his passing. My favorite memories are when he would arrive home from Alaska and rock me in his big strong arms with stories about bears and wolverines I imagined wolverines to be big huge chickens!.  It was such a safe and happy feeling and it brings a smile to my face as I recall the warmth.  Dad, as you would say "I love you to pieces"'  Your youngest baby, Kathy

Goodbye grandpa I will miss you.                 Love   Nile    

Here is my Eulogy from the funeral:
6 July 2002
Dear Grandpa,

I am writing because I want to make sure you know how much you have meant to me in my life.   I already miss you terribly and wish you were here, but I feel good knowing you lived an incredible and full life surrounded by a loving family and with the best wife a man could ever want.

You had a legendary and great life.  I canâ€™t imagine what the world was like when you were born in 1913 and the changes you saw in 89 years.  You saw 2 world wars, 16 Presidents, the great depression, the television, space travel and a man on the moon.  You had 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren with one more on the way.  You have seen a lot of America and have traveled to many countries around the world, you have sailed the seas, and been a successful businessman.  You looked like a movie star as a young man and a historical figure as you aged.  To me you were one of a kind and a legend that I could never forget.

You were the biggest character I have ever met and that is where my best memories come from.  Just sitting and talking to you and hearing your stories over and over and over. 

You are the only person I know who thought to name a cat Poody, then taught it to roll over on command and shut the cupboard door. 

You are the only person I know who actually named their dog Spot, and the only person I know who was really convinced that your dog could read.  He was able to go to the right meat delivery truck by reading the number on the side.

You used to brag about your football days with leather helmets and no facemask.  You broke your nose 4 times.  If it were me I would probably quit after one or two nose breakings but not you.  Of course, after you broke your arm playing football your Dad made you quit because it cost too much to put you back together after each game. 

I remember sitting in our small kitchen on Sunday night listening to Wayne Cody recap the Seahawk game waiting for your inevitable call to rant and rave about those darn Seachickens and how they will never win anything.  Looks like you were right.

I remember as a young boy going to visit you and Grandma and having to endure you taunting me over and over again about how you heard I was kissing girls at school.  Of course, I didnâ€™t like girls at the time and it drove me crazy, but once again you were right â€“ I should have been kissing girls.

I also remember the sayings that you would come up with that were so funny.  Something about a one armed paper hanger with a 7 year itch, or people tearing after you like a striped ape, or getting your ears lowered, or wearing your new skypiece.   You would tell us to use Karo syrup as Toto medicine and you always had a few packs of Wrigley spearmint gum that we would try to get when you werenâ€™t looking.

You came up with some of the funniest nicknames for people:  Sockey, Dirles, Cubby, Nudie, Stokka Baby, The Reverend, Sticker, T-Bone, and Rhubarb Vaselino.

You were the toughest guy I know.  The only person who not only beat up a blacksmith for messing with your girl, but who actually lived where there was a blacksmith.  You claimed to be able to hold a 50 lb anvil in each hand and hold them straight out for 10 minutes at a time.  Not sure where you get these anvils, must have been at the blacksmithâ€™s, but Iâ€™m sure you were that strong.   You loved to listen to your Marty Robbins album, especially the song El Paso.

You had a lot of sayings but the best of all is this: â€œChoose not your friends from the outward show.  Feathers float but pearls lie low.â€ 

I also remember you doing the things that Grandpaâ€™s do like helping me sharpen my new pocket knife at Christmas time, showing me how to swing a golf club, or just telling me how proud you were of me in everything I did.  Thank you for that.  Thank you for making me feel like my accomplishments were recognized and for caring so much about what I was up to. Thank you for being my friend.

But probably the most important lesson I take from you Grandpa is love for your family and love for your wife.  You loved each and every one of us with all of your heart and your family was the most important thing to you and that is my biggest lesson from you. Although your love was sometimes tough it was never in doubt and it always felt good to get.

I am about to get married this year and it is your example I look at.  62 years with my Grandma.  I never heard a bad word and I never saw you fail to give her love and affection through all of the years together while I was around.  I pray I will be so lucky.  It was great to see you two holding hands and giving kisses and being in love, even after 50 years of marriage.  You are my example and inspiration.  

I will miss you Grandpa as will we all but I feel good knowing you lived a long, wonderful life with a great family and plenty of love.  I canâ€™t wait to see you again many years from now.

With Love,

Derek


OBITUARY

Willard Lewis Rockom

December 31, 1969 – December 31, 1969

Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery

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