This would be my Pop. This photo is about 4 years old. A lot has happened in the last four years!
I had the pleasure of knowing Kenneth Steinke for a little more than 19 years…not nearly long enough in my book! I started to call him Pop when it became clear that Brian and I were going to be spending our lives together. It just didn’t feel “right” to me to call my future Father-in-Law by his first name…or his last for that matter…so he became Pop.
The name Pop really fit his personality. He was one of those people that were virtually always happy. It was very rare that I saw him grumpy or even downright mad. He also loved bright vibrant colors…he was the first man I ever saw wear pink and it looked so good on him. If Mom ever told me that Pop needed clothes for his birthday or Christmas, I knew to get the brightest, loudest shirt I could find and he would be happy! Then when you would comment on his new shirt he’d get that cute smirk of his going and add a spring to his step.
Pop and I clicked from the get go…but I think he truly clicked with everyone from the get-go. He made friends so easily…everywhere he went he’d chat and laugh with a perfect stranger. But I like to think we were kindred spirits. We shared many common interests. Whenever we were together we would end up chatting about something we both ended up watching on television, or read in the paper. He was one of the few people who could suck me into a joke…I wouldn’t see it coming until the punchline was delivered.
Another thing we had in common was that mischievious streak running down both of our backs. He loved to mess with Mom when she had her full attention on something else. He just kept slowly ruffling her feathers until she would, in a raised, exasperated voice, say, “HONESTLY, Kenny!”, then he would chuckle to himself (actually, it was more like a cackle) and head outside. Pop always made me laugh…and those who know me also know how much I truly value and appreciate a good laugh.
One area where we differed was in the luck department. The man was lucky like no one I ever knew. I will never forget mine and Brian’s wedding reception. Picture the Gold Coast banquet halls and Pop in his rented Tux. He would keep disappearing. Then just as suddenly he would reappear. All the while the pockets of his pants are bulging, more and more with each disappearance. He was sneaking out to the slot machines right outside the banquet hall. It was an absolute miracle that the seams to those pants pockets didn’t give out while he was out on the dance floor. He would have taken out half the reception guests if all those quarters had hit the floor.
Pop will be desperately missed by those who knew and loved him…we are all better for having known him and having been loved by him!
Filed under: Family, In Memorium
