Once the youngest of the seven children and three grandchildren Grandpa and Grandma had raised left the nest, Grandpa and Aunt Elly (his second daughter) initiated their dream of building a large, modern house that would accommodate the ever-growing extended family (25 members then) for holidays and family gatherings. At the time this plan began, my grandparents and Aunt Elly lived in an old house where the only source of heat was a wood stove in the living room (requiring the daily carrying in of chopped wood and the weekly carrying out of ashes); the laundry was done in the kitchen on a wringer washer that had to be rolled in and out of the corner on wash day; the bathroom was warmed by a small space heater that was only used during bath time; and the largest of the four closets was 3 by 3 feet.

Grandpa and Aunt Elly’s plan was to build a house that consisted of a 12- by 12-foot utility room with a washer and dryer (no more wringer washer or clothes line), three bedrooms, two baths, a big living room, a sizeable dining room, and a modern kitchen - all heated by a gas floor furnace (no more splitting/carrying wood or removing ashes). And this plan was to be completed without going into debt. The materials were frugally accumulated by purchasing items on sale, from freight surplus places and farm sales, and by receiving gifts from the family.

At the "young age of 71," the dream house was begun by children, grandchildren and friends helping Grandpa pour the foundation, raise the framing and put on the roof. Almost single-handedly, Grandpa did the electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, siding, trim, installation of fixtures and painting, while receiving a limited amount of help from various family members when they came to visit on the weekends. When the work stopped for the day, the helpers would be exhausted from trying to work as hard as Grandpa had all day long. Grandpa, though, would still have the energy to tell stories (which my grandmother would occasionally correct) of the "good ole days" growing up with his brothers and sisters, and of the antics of us children, friends and neighbors. He always delighted in playing with the kids and holding the babies, which would light up his pale blue eyes like a Christmas tree.

After about two years, Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Elly moved into their dream house. That was a day to celebrate! Shortly afterwards, the dream house was put to the test of accommodating a family gathering that now numbered 34 members. Grandpa and Grandma's 50th anniversary was celebrated and the dream house stood the test very well, although some creativity was required. The newest great-grandson of two months slept in a dresser drawer beside the bed where his parents slept.

Due to a heart attack, the rewards of living in this dream house Grandpa had completed at the age of 73 was short in time but long on satisfaction. His goal of leaving a low-maintenance, low-cost, debt-free house for Grandma and Aunt Elly to live in had been accomplished, and at the "never-too-old" age of 75, Grandpa left this world a satisfied man.