Uncle Tommy

Hello: I am Michelle Spear, and Tom was my Uncle.

I am honored to be able to speak to you today on behalf of the nieces and nephews on the Eichman side.

When I offered to talk I asked my cousins to share a memory of Uncle Tommy and each one shared some great stories.

So I could stand here all day talking about how he gave the boys amazing baseball cards for gifts, or played ball in the backyard with us, or how his humor showed through to us of even in times of discomfort, like when he broke his collar bone while on a trip back to Iowa. He was that fun uncle that came to visit once a year. He had this awesome beard before beards were cool. He somehow managed to keep us from getting in trouble with escapades that would have normally gotten us in trouble, like food fights.

And even into adulthood he would make sure to be up to date on our lives. As our children came along he was involved with them as well. He would enjoy seeing us on his trips back to Iowa and would stay connected to us no matter where in the world our lives took us. Including sending letters to my daughter when she was living in Germany.

But these are not what stand out the most to us, it was his pride for all of us and making sure we knew it. He would share it with us through letters and phone calls. Letting us know that he was most proud of our character for things like charity work, education, and our parenting, and that more than money and fame measure success.

And until I asked my cousins I never knew how special he made each one of us feel, like we were his favorite. Although I’m pretty sure I really am!

Genealogy is a love he, my grandma Hazel and I all shared. Family was important to him and after his retirement he continued my Grandma Hazel’s research and wrote this amazing story about our ancestor, David Whitney. So I find it only fitting to share this poem.

A limb has fallen from the family tree,
I keep hearing a voice that says, “Grieve not for me.
Remember the best times, the laughter, the song.
The good life lived while I was strong.
Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you,
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest,
Remembering all, now I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small
Go on with your life, don’t just stare at the wall.
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin,
Until the day comes we’re together again.

As the poem says and I am sure Uncle Tommy would agree, we are here to continue traditions no matter how small and I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the one tradition all us cousins immediately thought of…

So here’s to you Uncle Tommy!

Michelle blows bubbles in a glass of milk, which is something my Dad taught all his nieces and nephews how to do.