It is often in life that you do not learn how to fully appreciate something until it is gone. This was the case with my grandpa Gordon Preilipp, who passed away on the 26th of March 2001. He looked to be a vivid image of what the average, every man was supposed to be. However, Gordon Preilipp was nothing but ordinary.
             My grandfather was a resident of Janesville, Wisconsin until the day of his death. He received average grades in school and after the 12th grade he enlisted in the United States Military. After returning home from the Eastern Front, he fell in love with an Army Nurse named, Norma Volmer, whom he married three years later.
             My grandpa's military background may have contributed to the raising of his 5 children. My grandpa was always very interested in my sports events since his only son, was not interested in athletics and now is one of the leading medical authorities in the world. He would drive all the way to Minnesota to watch my games and even if I didn't play well he would talk for hours about the way I ran, caught, shot, or tackled. He would show me a sheet of the things I did well and the things I didn't do well. My grandpa was an avid sports fan and I will always remember the games when our purple and white Vikings faced off against the green and gold Packers. After every Packers touchdown the phone would ring twice then, silence. It went without saying that the abrupt halt to the ringing was merely my grandpa calling to make sure that we were watching the game and noticed the Packer score. When I was in 7th grade I received my first 4.0 GPA and one day later my grandpa had overnight shipped a card congratulating me on the achievement. My grandpa showed me that my accomplishments, no matter how big or small do not go without notice.
             When I was younger we would visit my grandpa's old farm more frequently and he would insist I come with him
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