An Early Memory With Dad

Memories of Grandpa Loefke
Index

On Saturday, 30 March 2002 we got together to celebrate grandpa Loefke's 80th birthday. As part of that, we all shared memories that we have had with him over the years. These are the memories we shared from Adrianna, Audrey, Sherry, Shane, Doug, Valerie, Autumn, Andrew, Matthew, Savannah, Jonathon.

Adrianna remembers Grandpa:

3-29-02
Grandpa

My memories of Grandpa are many. He has so many stories to tell and yet I don't think that I have heard many repeats. All of his war stories, no matter how daring or dangerous always ended with Grandpa declaring as heroes, those that never came home. That has always made an impression upon me.

He has also shared many stories from his life that convey his testimony and love for the gospel. I know that family is important to Grandpa. I remember growing up that we always had family and holiday gatherings at Grandpa and Grandma's house. It seemed that every month we had some type of family party and Grandpa cooked the roast, or the ham. He also made sure there was lots of dessert, even when he knew he should have any. He especially loves ginger snaps and snicker doodles.

When I think of Grandpa I also think of his shop. He loves to do woodworking. I have several beautiful things that he has made me over the years for birthdays or holiday gifts. He loves to make things for his children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren.

One thing I have learned is that you can talk to Grandpa about any place on earth and he has most likely been there. Just don't talk to him about politics or government… or fishing for that matter. You may just get more than you bargained for.

Happy Birthday Grandpa

Love,

Adrianna

Audrey remembers Grandpa:

Dear Grandpa,

Here are some of the fun memories that I have of you from when I was a kid.

I remember that you always had a box of Nilla Wafers stashed away in the pantry. You would let me snitch a few, and even now whenever I eat Nilla Wafers, I think about you.

I remember that you would take me and sneak me into your bedroom, and give me Big Red cinnamon gum from the top drawer of your dresser. I think that you kept the gum with your socks.

I remember watering your fields with you, and dragging the heavy hose up the hill to do it. When we got a lot of water on the plants in the field up above the house, the kangaroo rats would jump out of their holes, and then we would catch them and I could play with them.

When we came in after working so hard, you would feed me lunch at the stainless steel table - Campbells soup and oyster crackers.

I remember one day that you drove into our yard after you had been to town. You had brought Laura a puppy as a surprise. Of course I dont think that you had asked Mommy if you could before you did it, and by then it was too late. Laura and I were delighted with the new pet we had to play with.

I remember helping you haul rocks, and mix the cement, and then work on the rock wall around the bottom of the house by the old outside bathroom door. I am so glad that I got to help you then, because when it was time to build the rock walls at our house on Molokai, I knew how to make the rocks fit together.

I remember you letting a bunch of us cousins ride in the scoop on the front of your tractor while we sang. That was a lot of fun.

I remember you taking everyone to Disneyland every year so that we could all be together. I loved getting pictures with everyone together.

I remember you making me my doll cabinet to hang on my wall for my doll collection. I loved to look at my dolls through the glass doors that you put on it. It is one of the things that I have really missed since we moved away when I was 11 because I had to leave it behind. When you were making it, I helped, but you wouldnt tell me what we were working on since it was supposed to be a surprise.

I remember helping you work in the field. You had to use your tractor, and the only way that I could be by you was to ride on top of the tractor engine compartment right in front of the steering wheel. I rode there for as long as I could, but I finally had to get off since the engine was so hot that it was burning my bottom!

I remember you taking me on a trip up to the Sevys house when they lived in L.A. It was fun going in the car with you because we got to talk the whole way there. We got to stay for a day or two. Then on the way home, you took me to Disneyland. It was so fun because it was just us two. I dont even remember what rides we went on, but I remember you taking me to lunch inside Disneyland at a sit down restaurant! I had a lot of fun that day.

I remember you teaching me how to fish in Baja. I remember sitting up on the rocks and you showed me how to bait my hook and throw it out. Then when I caught my fish, you showed me how to gut it and take its scales off. I am so glad that you taught me how to do that since I have cleaned an awful lot of fish since then!

I remember you coming to visit us in Papua New Guinea at Gavit. While you were there, we went on lots of long walks. You talked about being on Manus during the war, and that the bomb casing that we found in the banana patch could have been one that you dropped since you dropped them in that area. While you were at Gavit we went diving so that you could get a giant clam. You found a very big and very heavy one that was hard to get into the boat.

One time when you came to visit us on Molokai, you kept going fishing, and catching sharks! I dont know how you caught so many sharks, but we got scared that that was all that was in the ocean in that one spot and we were swimming at the beach at the inside of your fishing point. We also got very tired of eating so many sharks!

Grandpa, thank you for all of the great things that you taught me as a kid, and that you are still teaching me now. I wish we could be closer so that my kids could get to know you better. They call you the Grandpa who sends them lots of fruit, and teaches them to eat oranges by sticking the whole section in their mouth and then pulling the peel off! They also love your shaped pancakes and keep telling me that I dont do it the right way like Grandpa does.

I love you lots, Audrey

Back to top.

Sherry remembers Grandpa:

I used to love to go watch Grandpa work in his shop at the old ranch. I loved all the drawers and shelves, the pot bellied stove, and especially the ratan monkey and the parrot that hung from the ceiling. When he moved out to Pine Glen Ranch the new workshop wasn't nearly as fun. But then he hired me to sort and arrange everything for him. I really enjoyed sorting through all the nails and bolts and arranging the tools. This last Christmas when we were there visiting he showed Benji the sign I had made all those years ago about putting the tools away in their proper place to avoid injuries. I was so suprised he still had that hanging there!

Sherry

Back to top.

Shane remembers Grandpa:

I have been thinking about this for a while. I thought about all the good times we had doing scouting and camping in Mexico but one memory struck me as the one I should relate. When we were living at Gavit and Grandpa came to visit us he was helping me fix the trailers. We were packing the wheel bearings with grease and Vangeta(our assistant manager) came to see what we were doing. He was the type who didn't like to get dirty. Grandpa told him "here, hold this" and handed him a greasy wheel bearing. Vangeta just stood there in shock staring at the greasy bearing in his hand. It was really funny. I still remember the look on his face.

Love
Shane

Back to top.

Doug remembers Paul Loefke:

30 March 2002

When I think of Paul Loefke, I think of the word ACTION. Where many men will talk a good talk, Paul not only talks the talk but also puts it into action. For as long as I can remember, he has always been involved in doing something, and most often for good.

He has always been generous with his time and always willing to pitch in where needed. Many are the times where he has helped put up a wall or plant a tree. His gardens have fed me more than I can count. All I have to do is look around the house to witness his handy work: on the walls or on the floors. He has made shelves, bookcases, beds or just knick-knacks. If you needed to move something, he was always there if he knew about it. It hasn’t mattered if it was only a little out of the way or even a long distance… it just didn’t matter. ACTION.

I’ve had great conversations about every subject in the book. Political, historical, scientific or spiritual - we’ve had some form of discussion about the subject and most of the time, I’ve been interested in hearing about it. I’ve been spellbound over war stories and real life espionage events and he has even been kind enough to ask me my opinion. That’s just the type of man he has been.

I’ve received Priesthood blessings at his hand and have had the opportunity to provide them for him. Not only has he always been a great example to me, but has always provided the same example to my kids.

He’s better at some things than others, but that never stops him from trying to do his best. A better and more dedicated Scouter you will never find.

He has taken his grandkids and me fishing and I still remember the trip to Baja.

Thanks for all the good company, memories, help, support, and love. Thanks for being my friend.

Doug

Valerie remembers dad:

Autumn remembers Grandpa:

Andrew remembers Grandpa:

Matthew remembers Grandpa:

30 March 2002

I love grandpa because for years he has taken me for rides on his tractor. He has taken me around the ranch many times. The part I like about it the most is riding in the bucket, even though I’ve had rides in the trailer too.

He always feeds us great lunches and dinners, and he always makes sure we get desert like ice cream and cake.

I love you grandpa.

Love Matthew

Back to top.

Savannah remembers Grandpa:

Jonathon remembers Grandpa: