Memories Of Grandpa Ken Kisch

I remember growing up Grandpa Kisch has been in my life for most of it. He married my Grandma around the time I was four if I remember correctly. One of the most prominent memories of Grandpa Kisch is his dogs. He always has had a small long haired dog as long as I have known him. I can't remember the first dog, but I remember their second one Kelly.I remember riding my bike on our first farm. I had training wheels on it, because I don't think I actually learned to ride a two wheeled bike until my cousin Lloyed showed me in Taylor, B.C. But I was riding my training bike up and down our drive way and Grandpa Kisch was out there with me watching me. His little dog ran in front of me and I ran right over it. I was so scared Grandpa would be mad, but he wasn't. He checked out his dog and made sure she was alright, and told me to get back on the bike and keep practicing.I remember on our second farm when I was older Grandma and Grandpa came to visit. I can't remember one time when Grandpa Kisch ever didn't complain about Fort. St. John Mud. “It's always muddy, always, this black disgusting mud is always here when I come to visit.” He said that all the time.I remember he always corrected my speech. I would always say “Grandpa do you know.”He would say, “If I knew you wouldn't be telling me. Stop saying 'Do you know?'.”Grandpa loved wood working. He built each of us kids a memory chest. I have it to this day and it is stuffed full of things I would like to take out one day when I'm older and look at. He had a very fancy wood working shop in Ferintosh, Ab where he spent lots of time building beautiful pieces of wood work.Grandpa also loved his flowers. I remember pulling up to their Bed and Breakfast in Ferintosh and the drive way had flowers all along it and down the middle. He had a beautiful stone fountain they built. He really loved creating things of beauty. He even helped us build our rock fountain at our second farm in Fort St. John.One funny memory I remember is Grandpa loved his bird feeders. He would sit out on a bench and watch the birds and would often fall asleep. I was out tossing pine cones into the air and trying to catch them. One of the pine cones I missed and it fell on Grandpa's bald head. It startled him so much he got up yelling and swinging his arms around. I was so scared and tried to hide behind a tree, but Grandpa came over and said “Was that you Cuyler?”I said, “It was an accident Grandpa.”“Be more careful next time, and stop tossing the pine cones in the air, your scaring the birds.” Then he brought me to sit on the bench with him and he started telling me what type of birds there were in the feeders. Then he scared off a squirrel which he said made him mad because they ate all the bird feed and scared off the birds.Grandpa was a loving man who loved beautiful things. He made great Chili which to this day I still think is the best Chili in the world. I will miss him but I'm not sad about his death. I know he had a great fulfilling life and accomplished much. I'm glad he came into my life when I was a young boy.I love you Grandpa. I'll miss you. Rest In Peace old friend.