06/03/2026
Not my typical post, but I never want to forget this day. This past Friday, 37 police, fire, EMS, and semi truck drivers gathered to help es**rt my Dad’s body 30 miles back home. There were people standing on every overpass, lining the streets to pay their respects and be there for our family. It was heartbreaking and beautiful. So many people. And in my typical fashion, I wanted to document some of this, through tears and riding in a moving vehicle.
My dad was a retired police chief, serving 33 years. A few years after retirement, he began his 2nd career as a truck driver. For those who don’t know, my dad was working in a construction zone on the interstate early Wednesday morning. A driver, who was speeding in the construction zone, dropped his phone, tried to retrieve it, lost control of his truck and trailer, and hit and killed my dad. (That’s pretty much all I can say about the incident at this time.) My dad was only 64 years old. Father of 6, grandfather of 14, and a great grandpa to 1 little girl. He had so much more life to live, games to go to, hunting trips to plan…
It has been a rough week. I’m sharing this as a way to remember, honor him, thank all those who showed up, and to serve as a reminder to everyone - to slow down and stay off your phones when you are driving. I’ve preached to my kids (and myself honestly) that all it takes is a second to look down, to take your eyes off the road, to completely change the lives of multiple families. 💔
Thank you for the sweet messages. I could feel so many of you praying for our family these past days. It is much appreciated!
