Here is what I (Cassi) shared in the Kinast Cousins Remembering Grandpa Facebook page on April 7, 2020:

Thank you for including me in this. I don't feel that I have as much to offer because I wasn't raised knowing Grandpa as my own grandpa, but he allowed me to call him "Grandpa", like everyone else did, for the last 16 years. Half my life.  

And I'm grateful because he didn't have to do that. He could have asked me to call him Charlie, but that's not who he was. I have a slightly different perspective than some here because I didn't know him until I was a teenager. 

He was always one of the first to say hello when I walked in the door. He always had something he wanted to tell me; a connection he wanted to make.

When he knew Adelynn was taking dance at Judy's, he told me Judy's whole life story. When he put together that my cousin owned Kauffman Seeds, he was quick to tell me about all of their rural community connections. If he would drive by the Yoder church and see cars, he would ask me what was going on. Anytime he would hear of someone in the news with a Mennonite last name, he'd ask me about my connection with them - and it wouldn't even offend me! Quite the opposite, actually. And he would hang on to this stuff for weeks until he would see me to check in. His value for connection was apparent.

Although I didn't get to know Grandpa for my whole life, we get to hold those memories close forever. I can see his legacy in each of you. I can see how you love your spouses and intend to love them for 65 years and on into eternity because of the way your grandpa loved your grandma. Kate, I see that stubborn fighter in you that I saw in him - and I mean that wholly in a positive way. Charles, I see your strong sense of family he had. Mary, I see your fierce love like his. Hannah, I see the gentle touch you have the way he had. Sarah, I see his strong faith in you. I see the exact same ornery ornery twinkle in David's eye that Grandpa always had in his. What everlasting gifts he left.

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

As I said before, I don't have the childhood memories of Grandma & Grandpa, but as an adult, I am thankful to have items of theirs to remember them by. Watching Ollie play with Grandpa's tractor and trucks is a joy. I have Grandma's washboard up in my laundry room to brighten up some long days of continuous laundry. Adelynn has her bears and windmill on display in her bedroom. Ava chose a lighter that Grandma had that stored pins. Dave noticed the lighter as being Grandpa's, so he bought new insides to make it work as a lighter again. That tiny lighter just brought to mind that even though the two of them had differing views on an object, that didn't make it any less valuable. I also see that continuing through Dave's and Ava's thought processes, which just reminds me that unconditional love is a family trait. 

Seeing these girls wearing her jewelry to her celebration of life was so fitting. 

This is what I imagine them doing now.

Knowing how much Grandma loved family and nature, I will end with the last sentence of what I shared on social media on October 25, 2023.

"Feeling grateful they chose the time together,
especially as the air reminds us of the briskness of life." 

 

So many memories…

After high school and when there was no special man in my life, I asked Ma and Pa for a man for Christmas.  They came through.  That year they gave me my large ceramic Santa. I remember how pleased they were to have “gotten” me.  Another year I asked for sexy socks.  Yes, my love of socks goes back a long ways.  Once again, they delivered.  I still have the red socks in my drawer that have the word sexy all over them.  Again, I remember how pleased they were with themselves.

I met Tim when I lived alone in Lawrence.  However, on our first date Ma and Pa were visiting for the weekend.  I didn’t think it was fair to have Tim meet my parents since he wouldn’t be expecting it.  They parked across the street and sat in the car when he picked me up.  Ma kept Pa from using the binoculars to check him out.  We didn’t tell Tim about this till several years later.

I love to think about Pa with his glint in his eye doing or saying something and Ma responding with “Charlie!”.

 

Love

Laurie

Forever Thankful

It's so hard to think of just one story to encapsulate Grandma and Grandpa so we made a word cloud which includes just a few of the things that came to mind. I will never forget the warm, supportive, positive, and nurturing home that they cultivated. I will always remember the family gatherings whether it was Easter, July 4, Christmas, a birthday, or a family dinner. Sitting around the table with Grandma and Grandpa in their usual spots (Grandma with easy access to the kitchen), I loved listening to the conversation and always felt like they wanted to hear what I had to say as well. I'm am so grateful for the time we shared. Love you Grandma and Grandpa!

Memories of Grandma and Grandpa

 I remember when Grandpa Al, Grandpa, and I went golfing at the Haven Golf course.  It had sand greens.  It was a fun time and both Grandpa and Grandpa Al were surprised at some of the good shots I made.  Ha!

I remember our shopping trips with Grandma, which were for our birthday and then we would go out to eat for lunch.  In the later years, we always went to Panera.  Grandma and I would often go there after her heart appointment in Wichita.  We always had the Buy 2 special.  We chose broccoli cheddar soup and 1/2 a tuna sandwich. Plus, a Dr. Pepper to drink.

My drives to the pasture with Grandma and Grandpa were good. However, the ones with Grandma were always special.  We were always thrilled when we saw deer or other wildlife.  Grandma could also drive a mean lawn mower around the pasture when we were mowing. 

Love, Pamey

 One special memory I have of Grandma and Grandpa is one day I was helping clean out a flower bed in the back yard.  Grandma and I had filled up the blue plastic round tub with rope handles.  Grandma was going to carry it to the trash cart.  Grandpa jumped up and took hold of one side, his cane in the other hand and they both carried it away.  I've always wished I had a photo.

Another favorite memory is hearing Grandpa tell about meeting Grandma and asking her to marry him within a week!