Did not spend much time apart.

[doc henderson]

I had mentioned this in another thread, and did not want to high jack it again.  My love for woodworking and respect for those good at it came from my Dad.  Next in line was Kenny Skeels.  I worked with his boys on building, starting at age 12 or so.  He would give us a putty knife, tape, and a trowel of sheet rock mud, and send us to spend a day taping and mudding a closet.   He could fix what ever we screwed up, and it was just learning for us.  I worked for/with Kenny for years even up through college when i was working to go back to school.  He usually stick built luxury homes, but tried the prefab walls stuff that all comes in on a truck.  you have the floor over the basement, and in three days, you have a weathered in home.  He had a good sized but young crew.  I was about 16 then.  if it was to be over 100°, we would start at 5 am, and get off at 2 pm so we did not have to work in the heat.  We all went swimming or played tennis after anyway.  At the end of the day he would yell "pick up tools boys".  He would leave and come back with Coors beer and we all had a few.  back in the old days.  I worked for him when I was out of college to earn money.  this is when interest rates were 21%, and no one was building houses.  We did a series of houses that burned down.  just before I left to go back to school, I stopped to see him and the crew at a jobsite.  I had my trunk open and he hid about 100 tampons (from the bathroom of the half burned down house) in all the nooks and crannies of my Camero.  I doubt I ever found them all.  good laugh.  Kenny has 4 kids all about the same age as the three in our family.  We always spent Christmas eve. together after midnight mass.  when they moved to Co for 8 years, we went to Co every summer for the family vacation.  When I got out of residency and moved to hays, I bought a 5 acre property with a house and a second house framed used as a shop.  I paid 57K in 94 if that tells uyou the condition of the house.  for the remodel, Kenny would come from Kansas City, and stay a week or 10 days, then go home to visit. Rosie.  Rosie was an RN grad from Mary Mount College in Salina, Ks.  She inspired My mom to become a nurse, and who knows how many others.  Prob helped me decide to go to med. school.  My wife and I went to a funeral about 3 month ago in Concordia, and had dinner with Kenny and Rosie.  Kenny had deteriorated with a tremor and short term memory loss.  Had not seen them for a while due to covid.  He was so lucky to have his own live in nurse.  They were living in a house that Kenny built for his parents, and inherited back after his parents died.  The home place is where his parents lived, and converted a small garage into "Skeels Shoe Shop".  Kenny had a twin, and they were born premature and small.  The Doc told his mom they would not live, but she could take them home and try to feed them, and recommended a shoe box for a crib.  they both lived.  Kenny was an athlete, and very good at baseball.  He had an offer to join a farm team, but was told by his parents that he was needed at home.  They had a big garden and did lots of work to get the family by.  If you wanted to see a strong man cry, you bring up his potential baseball career.  He was always a coach.  He was hard on his boys but they turned out good.  The girls too.  Deeann (DD), David, Doug, and Danna.  He could mud, sheetrock tape so smooth, it did not need to be sanded.  After 4 of us younins failed to hang a 1/2 inch 4 x 12 piece of sheetrock on the ceiling, he picked up one by himself, with nails in his mouth, jumped onto a saw horse, hung it perfectly by himself.  His right forearm was twice the size of his left (hammer days).  Well Rosie died end of November (I had posted this on @Old Greenhorn thread), and we had the funeral last Friday.  It was good to see all his kids again.  last time was there 50th wedding anniversary.  Kenny passed at 2 am this morning.  My greatest mentor, along with my dad.  He was as proud of my accomplishments as my own parents.  thanks to @olcowhand for this sculpture we had been talking about since the pig roast.  Got it engraved yesterday to ship to him today.  got the call at 07:00 am.



 



Kenny and Rosie, together again.  

[barbender]

 Wow. It is amazing the profound influence someone can have by investing in younger folks' lives. As a young person you often don't even realize someone is going out of their way to teach and train you. Sometimes it just seems like they're busting your chops, and it takes years of reflection to realize the scope of what they've given you. I'm glad you realize what Kenny did for you and others, Doc. 

 PS I've seen from some of your posts that he rubbed off on you😉

 

[DbltreeBelgians]

A lot of great memories you shared Bryan. I'm sorry for your lose. The sculpture by @olcowhand  and your engraving are a great tribute to your mentor and great friend. Cherish all the time you got to spend with and learn from him.

Brent

[WV Sawmiller]

Doc,

   Sorry for your and everyone's loss. Great to hear your recollections. It is obvious he left a big hole to fill but sounds like he made a good start with his mentoring.

   We stopped by our local grocery store last night and our local HS band director saw my wife and we all stood there and talked for an hour in the aisle between the canned veggies and the bakery goods. He was her student and she was his mentor and she had him hired as a year long sub for her while she joined me in Norway in 2007 which helped get him in the door when she retired. He was bragging about all the tips, policies, procedures and practices she gave him that he has used and continues with his kids.

   The ethics, skills and training we impart to others is our best legacy and I'd say Kenny did good.

    I think of my old mentor every time I skin a squirrel or tie a catfish limbline to a limb over the lake. 

[SwampDonkey]

Lots of great memories to hold onto. Sorry he passed too soon. That's a great looking sculpture.  He surely meant a lot in your life.

[doc henderson]

With Rosie passing, I think the family feels it is a blessing.  although still sad.  Thanks everyone.

[bitternut]

Doc, that is an amazing story. You are so blessed to have had Kenny in your life. I am quite sure he enjoyed having you in his also. Seems as though a lot of Kenny rubbed off on you.

[Old Greenhorn]

Wonderful story Doc, you are indeed fortunate to have people of that stature in your life, and for so long too. I am deeply sorry for your loss. I wish you many happy memories.

[SawyerTed]

We live how we were taught.  Sometimes that teacher is a fun loving, hardworking person who doesn't think they are teaching us anything.

Sorry for your loss.  I, too, believe Kenny rubbed off on you and likely more than even you realize.  Your love for him is evident in your stories.

[aigheadish]

Sorry to hear it doc!

That sculpture and engraving will be a great memory for you and his other loved ones. 

[B.C.C. Lapp]

Real sorry for your loss Doc.    What you wrote, well, that's a lot to say about a man.  
Its wonderful that Rosie and Kenny had so many years together and that you had them in your life.  
But still, its hard I know, so once again sorry for your loss and glad for what you had.

[Nebraska]

Sorry for the loss of your mentor, glad they are together again.  My oldest son is named after mine. 

[firefighter ontheside]

I'm sorry for the loss of your friends Doc.  Tough to lose them so close together.

[olcowhand]

@doc henderson ,
I'm deeply saddened by your loss, but also proud that I played a small part in your tribute to this man.
I'm pretty sure that you meant for this gift to be presented to him as he was living.
While the timing is somewhat bittersweet, I'm sure he knew how much he, and his actions/ words- meant to you. In my interactions with you, I've noticed that you don't hold back from expressing your positive feelings about others, and so you know- that has some influence on your Forum Family (myself included).
You were "Man" enough, even as a young man- to accept his admonishments and lessons as a means to self-assess and improve. That may be the biggest mark he left on you, and your post very likely leaves a similar mark on most of us. 
My condolences for your loss, and this loss felt by others.
Steve

[Walnut Beast]

Condolences Doc. Great story! Many good memories!

[Ricker]

Sorry for your loss Doc.  It's so tough to lose those people we looked up to in our youth.