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My Grandfather

My Grandfather, Joy F Sipple, was an Engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad... 

 

The background for this tabblo is a page out of one of his journal's - Dec. 31, 1942

 

He usually worked every day, 364 days a year, no weekends off, no vacations.  Walking almost 2 miles to work & back home in all weather.  In 1942, he says that he "lost 15 days of work." 

 

There were 5 children in the family... by 1942 all were gone.   His journal says, "Mother & I are alone" and he lists the children & where they are.

 

The 1st photo above is an early postcard photo of the Union Pacific Depot in Grand Island, NE

The photo above on the left is my favorite photo of my Grandparents together (not many exist)...

The one above on the right was taken  the year of this entry.

 

Less than 2 years later, at age 53, my Grandmother passed away a few months after I was born. 

That's me with my Grandfather to the right...

 

It is amazing to me that my Grandfather's salary for the year was only $3028.20...

yet he managed to buy $336.00 in War Bonds... over 10% of his salary. 

COMMENTS
Loes said at 5:35 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
Wonderful memories!
Wildthing said at 5:59 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
I love this, Jodi. We don't know we're born in this day & age. This tab on your grandfather helps to appreciate how hard life was back then.
Welshchick said at 6:57 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
Oh Jodi~~1942 when you say the children are gone - you mean they left the nest right? I had heard of families who lost all of their children in epidemics...I'm hoping that they just all flew the nest~ This is so facinating!
21-gramm said at 6:59 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
great tribute, Jodi!
i like running hand of you Grandfather..
Gumpsmom said at 7:28 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
What a lovely tribute to your grandfather. It would be fascinating to read his whole journal.
EMA said at 7:40 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
This is a beautiful tribute to your grandfather and also a peace of history. I love the layout you choose. Very nice Jody!
YorkJodi said at 8:22 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
Thanks everyone... I like his handwriting too, Den... very precise & neat. Yes, Rhonda... they had all married & left the nest but the youngest who was in the Navy... Grandpa lists each & where they are... but it's sort of covered by a photo.

I have 7 years of his journals... they are very interesting although I always wish he had written more.. he tended to put the weather report, what train & who he worked with, who he got mail from and who he wrote to... but not what was said. In a couple he lists all the football scores & baseball scores for all of the teams. Always the bills paid... who owes him money, who he gave money to. Fun stuff...
Cowgirl said at 10:03 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
Jodi this is so sweet and lovely love how you made the back drop .... clever . Thanks for sharing
Debdog said at 11:01 p.m. on Jul 20, 2008:
wow, what a gift you have to have this Jodi!!!!!!!!!
SFMatMan said at 1:06 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Wow. Pretty neat.
Gerardfotografeert said at 1:45 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Awesome! and a beautiful tribute for your grandfather. Excellent work Jodi
Noe said at 2:55 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Wow... this is a really cool tabblo Jodi!! Great work and beautiful tribute! =)
Moabjeeper said at 7:54 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Wow.
Maz2001 said at 7:57 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Very nicely done.
DocEna said at 7:58 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Great tribute to the memory of an extraordinary man of his day...his life touched each one of us in a peculiar way making us wonder how things happened years back..tks for this BIOGRAPHICAL TABBLO.
PaulBarfoot said at 8:19 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Wonderful Jodi! You are so lucky to have the journals. Even though they may contain mostly mundane information, it is a real window into his life. Selecting the journal page for a background is deliciously symbolic - the snapshots (those small memories we keep) are always on top of the backdrop of life's day-by-day details - and your placement of the picture of him holding you is like a signature at the end. a favorite
PhotoPop said at 11:04 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
A charming tabblo, I particularly like the way you incorporated the pictures on the journal.
Ira said at 11:10 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Remarkable tabblo. A heroic history. The great people. Ancient photos very rare.
Chaitiamma said at 11:22 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Excellent Tabblo !!!
Tishfish said at 11:25 a.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
Beautiful memories Jodi ! ! ! ! !
Queenanneslace0724 said at 2:11 p.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
What a great idea - I love the calendar being the background! This page would be neat to have printed off as part of a book ~ Have u seen the books now that you can get printed up at local photo developing places? One here in my town is at CVS Drug Store. Would look great in something like that! Hope u dont mind - I may "borrow" this idea! Great inspiration!
YonderCreature said at 3:13 p.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
This is an artfully created museum piece--what a wonderful tribute to your grandfather! He is an amazing man and it is touching to see you immortalize him here so beautifully.
JoanW said at 3:29 p.m. on Jul 21, 2008:
It;s a lovely tribute to your grandparents. What nice memories to have. Thanks for sharing with us.
Swedfinn said at 10:09 a.m. on Jul 22, 2008:
You are lucky to have so many detailed memories from your grand father! Very interesting. Thanks for sharing it! You have made a nice lay out for it,too.
Babooshka said at 3:47 p.m. on Jul 22, 2008:
Very precious to have a diary from you grandfather....
Chesapeakekid said at 11:54 p.m. on Jul 23, 2008:
It's good to know where we are from and what we are made of. My first hobby is genealogy. I find family history fascinating. So much to know. Great Tabblo.
Moonstarlee said at 11:01 p.m. on Jul 30, 2008:
aww how wonderful i love my grandfather too..heck i love old people ..there just so sweet and wise i love hearing all there wonderful stories and stuff...wonderful tabblo ~Tianna
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