Sunday, August 25, 2024

OLE

      We paid our respects and final good byes to Ole this week. 

      I taught with Ole for at least 25 years. Every day he came to work and worked hard. He taught math and wanted every student to succeed to the best of their ability. 

     Ole was a very large gentle man who could occasionally get riled up when there was justification. He was patient for most of his life. 

     Stories about Ole would fill a book and Ole could tell stories that would fill a book.

    Ole remained single and had one brother who was married with children. Ole worshipped all of them. He took the whole family to tour Europe for 2 weeks. He took all of them to Hawaii and Disneyland.

    When we went on school retreats Ole would request me for a room mate before any planning was done. He said, "Red doesn't drink!" What he actually meant was Red doesn't party. 

     Ole was very active in the community and sports. It's cool that he was the PA announcer for the base ball club. When he was younger he played base ball and was a very competitive bowler. 

      Cool that the funeral celebrant had been a student of Ole's. 

       One time it was rumored that there would be a fight between some kids in our school and the next door school. The principal asked Ole and I to keep an eye on the yard and if anything happened we were to look after it. Kids did show up so out we went. Ole with his hands behind his back and a very gentle confident smile. We stood there and after a few minutes everybody went their own way and the excitement was over. I didn't do a thing but Ole did. 

     I will remember him and I can still hear his voice. 

32 comments:

  1. He was a fine teacher and a fine man.

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    1. You knew him well and he was easy to get to know.

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  2. Great tribute and memories of Ole! Take care, enjoy your day and have a great week ahead.

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  3. I am not trying to be disrespectful when I say Olé (Bravo!) for Ole.

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    1. Well as teachers we have our own sense of humor but your comment suits Ole to a T.

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  4. He sounds like a really good person and a wonderful friend. And I think he must have had a good sendoff from the sounds of it. Thanks for letting me know him a little.

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    1. He contributed to the community and society.

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  5. Sounds like you got on well and were lucky to work together.

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    1. He certainly encouraged us to do better.

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  6. Sorry about the loss of your friend, Red. It sounds like he lived a good life.

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    1. Ole was in the game and enjoyed it well.

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  7. I'm sorry. It must be strange to lose someone you've known for so long and with whom you shared so many memories.

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    1. His quality of life for the last few years was very, very poor. He is at peace.

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  8. Sorry for the loss of your friend. You have many good memories of him.

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  9. RIP Ole...sad to lose old friends and coworkers.

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    1. We remember the good times and there were lots of them.

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  10. That is a beautiful memory of a much-loved man. His skill in dealing with young people must have been quite remarkable.

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    1. He contributed to several different areas in the school program.

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  11. What a beautiful post, Red. It brought a tear to my eye (well both of them actually).

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  12. I enjoyed reading about your friend Ole.

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    1. He was definitely not a primary school type but he did love his niece and nephews.

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  13. I'm sorry you have lost a fellow teacher and friend, Red. Some people really stand out in a person's memory, for all the right reasons.

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    1. He liked a good story that would give him chuckle.

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  14. I hope thousands and thousands of children have had teachers like Ole.

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    1. Yes, but there are many different types of teachers who get the job done.

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  15. I am sorry to hear of your friend's passing. You and Joanne both have had a rough time.

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    1. Thanks. Ole's quality of life was very poor for the last few years.

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  16. The old friends are slipping away at an alarming rate. Sorry to hear it, Red.

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  17. You look around at this age and many of our friends are gone.

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  18. It seems kinda stressing when old friends say goodbye.
    Sorry for your loss Red!
    It is a very.nice tribute to Ole . despite health issues he was good in sports wow!
    How sweet of him to take his brother 's family for trip.
    I think memories will not fade away

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