Kalin's Speech for Grandpop's Memorial

By Kalin Elizabeth Sommer

My grandpop was a kind, generous, and caring man. He listened to people and he gave the best hugs. Grandpop and I were in the middle of reading some books about the 1920s to now. We stopped in the middle of the 1940s, but Felise and I will finish them together. My little sister, Jenny, used to spend Tuesdays with Grandpop and they would draw pictures of aliens. Sometimes I went along.

I remember when we had sleepovers we would usually go to the Fish Market or Sammy's Woodfire Pizza. When we came home, we would read a book and go to bed. In the morning we would wake up and have Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. My Grandpop would sleep in, but we would go upstairs to say goodbye to him in the morning.

My Grandpop loved the Democratic Party. He felt very strongly about who should and shouldn't be president. Grandpop wanted Jenny and I to be democrats, which we probably will be. I remember Grandpop telling me that he asked Jenny if she was going to be an entrepreneur and that they could make a lot of money. Jenny said, "I can't be rich, Grandpop. I'm a democrat!" Everyone started laughing.

Grandpop loved lemon: lemon pie, lemon candy, lemon everything. He also loved Good and Plenty's and Allsorts. I must admit sometimes my sister and I tried to sneak some of his candy. Grandpop always had a sweet tooth that never went away.

My Grandpop also adored Penn State and always watched their football games. Grandpop got a teddy bear from Penn State that he called "Sweetie Pie." Felise gave Sweetie Pie to me after Grandpop died, and I sleep with him every night.

My Grandpop wanted to make the war stay in the past, but he would still talk to me about it. Grandpop would be happy to see how many people loved him. I want to thank all of you for making my Grandpop's life so wonderful, but I would especially like to thank Felise for making Grandpop's life the last fifteen years so happy. She and all of you brought joy to his life. Thank you.

Kalin Sommer is 11 years old and in the sixth grade. She is Jim's eldest granddaughter. She lives in San Diego with her mom and dad and little sister, Jenny.