In Remembrace of Ivan "Dwight" Loofbourrow:

I Never Got to Tell You Thanks
by his son, Ron Loofbourrow

Dad, I never got to tell you thanks for all you did for me.
I really always meant to, but you left so suddenly.

You loved writing poems, I could never even come near,
But I'm writing one for you, and I know that you can hear.

Thank you for my childhood, I have only happy thoughts,
of camping trips, and baseball games, and all those fish we
caught.

True I don't recall a lot of times that you were there at home,
but I know where you were, working your fingers to the bone.

I'll never know how you did it, on our meager salary,
To provide us a home, car, and those trips to Yosemite!

Thank you for my teenage years, and all the things you helped
me earn,
The cars, the dates, the stereos, and yes, that new French
Horn.
You always were so generous when I asked you for a loan,
and Dad, I'll really pay you back the next time I'm at home.

Thank you for my college years I never will forget,
how you sacrificed so much for me so I could get ahead.
You gave the push I needed to begin my life apart,
Thank you Dad, for giving me the tools I needed to start.

When I look back and ponder all the things I learned from
you,
I come up with a list of things I know I want to do.
To live a righteous life, with quiet humility,
To be a man of honor, full of integrity.
To provide for your family and love God with all your heart,
To love your wife and live with her 'til death do you part.

You never really spoke these things, you lived them -- that's
your style,
But I got the message loud and clear and that should make
you smile.

I'm confident the Lord said as you stood before His throne,
You ran the race, you fought the fight, well done Dwight, now
come home.

Dad, I never got to tell you thanks for all you did for me.
I really always meant to, but you left so suddenly.

Thanks, Dad -- you did a great job -- we all love you and
miss you!

Dwight's son, Ron, wrote this poem and read it at his father's
Memorial Service, 24 Jul 1995. ‏(used by permission)‏