Monday, October 21, 2024
OUR DAD, AVERY ZWICKER
He was the first-born son to Newton and Mildred.
He was a big brother to Norman, June, Stanley, Bryant, Sharon, Marlin, Rodney, Donna, and Brenda.
He was a nephew to many aunts and uncles, always making sure to stay in touch as best he could either by phone or visit.
He was an uncle to our cousins whom he often offered what seemed to be a bottomless candy supply from his pocket
He was a husband to Melda (Crouse) whom he married on April 1, 1961, and with whom he shared his life in Lapland for the next 63 years.
He was our (Kirk, Philip, Sonia, and Lisa’s) dad.
He was Grampy to Samantha, Julia, Katherine, Nicholas, Riley, Brenna, Ella, and Connor whom he could be found playing on the floor, playing pranks such as putting potatoes in their shoes or French fries in their milk or making sure they had their first piggy bank or doll.
He was a Great Grampy to Aubrey, Grace, Cameron, Drew, Everett, and Lillian whose pictures and visits gave him immense joy.
He was a co-worker to many over his career working in the woods, at various lumber mills, at various community farms and finally at Harry Freeman and Sons until he retired.
He was a member and volunteer at the Lapland and District fire department and member of the Lunenburg County Ox Pulling Association.
He was a good Samaritan. Always assisting if broken down on the country roads or stuck in snow or mud. Even offering towing services in the middle of the night if called upon.
Dad faced challenges much of his life and never let those challenges define him. Dad often worked long days, often sacrificing his own comfort to make sure we had everything we needed. He helped anyone who needed help and asked for nothing in return. During the later part of his life when he faced increasing challenges, he never complained, and continued to put others’ needs before his own, offering to share his meals in the hospital with whomever was visiting before he ate.
There was one constant in his life for the last 63 years, our mom and his wife Melda whom he loved with all his heart. There was nothing more important to him than her health and happiness. He told my mom recently that he could not see a world without her sharing it with him. We will certainly miss the sounds of their bantering and laughing which filled the kitchen at the family house on the hill in Lapland.
Dad taught us the value of hard work. I remember meeting a former co-worker of our dads for the first time and once he learned who our dad was, he said that “Avery was the hardest working man he ever knew and never complained regardless of what was asked of him.” We were so proud as we knew that it was true.
He was not just our dad—he was our teacher. Dad taught many of us to hunt, fish, plant a vegetable garden, chop wood and operate a chain saw, basic carpentry skills, play checkers, auction 45s and crazy eights, whittle with a jack knife, safely make a fire, ride a horse, milk a cow, identify the types of trees in the forest, play harmless but enjoyable jokes and pranks, whistle, be a parent and grandparent, team oxen, make a yoke, shovel snow, pick out the perfect Christmas tree, make a whistle out of tree branch or piece of grass. He taught us to live with integrity, always do what was right and treat everyone the same as you would expect to be treated. His belief in honesty, kindness, perseverance, hard work, and the importance of family, shaped who we are today.
As a farmer, dad was often called upon to be the local veterinarian and butcher, shoe a horse or an ox, assist in training ox and horse teams, assist with the operation of a farm, and help when help was needed on the hayfield.
Our dad was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed the many adventures fishing and hunting with family and friends and re-telling the stories about the one that got away or the one’s that did not. Many hours were spent talking on the phone about the past adventures and ones yet to come.
And most importantly he was the best son, big brother, nephew, uncle, husband, dad, Grampy and great Grampy we could ask for. Everyone is so much better for having been touched even briefly by his presence and we are so lucky to have been touched for our entire lives. We will all miss you Dad and we take comfort to know that you will be watching over us and continuing to protect us.
