Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Donald Stephen Amsler 1938-2013

My beloved father passed into the presence of his Lord at 8:30p in Monday, November 18, 2013 after a brief illness.

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We are all stunned at the loss.
Dad was the first born of D. Wayne Amsler and Elizabeth Mortensen Amsler and we assume that he was in charge of the scene from the moment that he exited the womb. Dad was always in charge. In fact, Grandma A. remarked one time that it was either send him to school at age 4....or kill him.


College at 16 years of age. Medical school and marriage at the age of 20. Father to moi at age 21. Father to Pilot Man at age 22. He was always busy and on the go.
Proud veteran.
A love of cars of all sorts.
A fantastic physician who was beloved by his patients. And just a bit more on that, I can tell you that when we traveled it was not an uncommon thing to hear a voice say, "Dr. Amsler! I thought that was you!" You just don't expect to meet a patient as you exit an Amish furniture store in Amana, Iowa.....or a beach in Hawaii....or Europe.
A man out standing in his field.

Sorry, I just had to say that. And really that is my brother's field.

Dad was always ready with a joke or witicsm. Even on the weekend before his death, when he was so very ill, he was still cracking jokes. Having an oxygen mask on your face is no excuse for not doubling the ICU nurses over in laughter.

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Small furry animals who dared to dig in his landscaping or under his deck had reason to be fearful. He was the master of the baited trap.
A photographer of some skill, many were the trips when we were required to stand in front of some unusual sign in some obscure town and take a picture. Dad would set up the camera, set the timer and then run into position.

As you can see I was SO EXTREMELY happy to have my photo taken. Somewhere there is a photo, similar to the one above, taken in front of a sign for Intercourse, Pennsylvania.

You can just imagine how I LOVED having that photo taken.
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Married to the love of his life for 54 years. What a testament of marriage. They traveled the world from China to Romania to Russia to Florida and many points in between.

Dad was always available to help in any way that you needed. Research, advice, a joke, a glass of wine. He was there for you. When Shoe Queen had her car accident on the Tri State tollway Dad and Mimi dropped everything, went to get her, checked to make sure she was OK and the put her on a plane for home.
He was just too many things to list here.

He was my beloved dad, my champion, my fellow book lover and beer aficionado. Sender of articles on obscure and fascinating medical topics. I know that our parting is only temporary. He is no longer in pain, free from illness, surrounded by his parents and other friends who have gone on before.

I was blessed to be able to speak to Dad about 20 minutes before he went home to Jesus. We were able to say good bye and tell each other that we loved each other.

I couldn't ask for a better last conversation.

But oh how I will miss him until I see him again.

I love you Dad


18 comments:

  1. We were super fortunate to know your Dad and to call him a friend. What a great man.

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  2. What a beautiful tribute. So very sorry for your loss.

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  3. Such a lovely tribute to your extraordinary father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

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  4. I'm sorry for your loss, I loved the photos you put together and stories for his tribute.

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  5. I love this expression of your love for him. While I didn't know him, knowing you tells me he was a special man. You will miss him every day but the joys you shared will always be present. Love to you and your family.

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    1. You know, for some reason I felt that you had met the parental units at least once during our college time together.

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  6. Thank you for the pictures and the memories. Your parents were an incredible blessing in my life.

    Much of the credit for my survival of early marriage is owed to the year I spent in their house. They were kind and loving but also real people who occasionally had conflict - they showed me that conflict wasn't the end of the world...just a bump in the road!!

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  7. What a beautiful person your Dad must have been. I'm so sorry for your loss, but glad you have comfort knowing you will meet up with him again. We will continue to pray for you and your family.

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  8. I'm so sorry for your loss. It seems he lived a beautiful life and will be missed by many. You are in my prayers.

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  9. Debbie, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved father. What a guy! I loved reading about this man.. a man who obviously made the world a better place. And I can now see, by your description, where your wonderful sense of humor comes from. Those pictures are fabulous! Hugs to you and yours.. will be thinking about you.

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  10. What a wonderful testimony to your father. Obviously he was a wonderful man to have imprinted you with such words for him. I'm sorry for your loss.

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  11. so very sorry for your tremendous loss. He had such a great smile.

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  12. Such a heartfelt tribute to what had to be a most remarkable man. Keep remembering those wonderful years you had with him. May your grief be short and your heart be light.

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  13. As his practice lawyer first, and then his friend later, I agree with you Debbie, your Dad was truly amazing. He was certainly one of the smartest guys I know. More importantly, he always put others first, even in business, and that is a mark of a great human being. Thanks for expressing your love so beautifully; your Dad is undoubtedly enjoying every word.

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    1. Thank you, Bill. Dad always spoke highly of you, both in your professional relationship and your friendship.

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  14. Wow, I just learned of you father's loss. He was a wonderful man. I was a patient of his for over 40 years. He saved my life in 1977 and delivered my child in 1978. I could go on and on about how wonderful he was, but you already know that. My deepest sympathy to you and your entire family.

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    1. Thank you so much! I would love to hear more about how he saved your life in 1977!

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