My Role Model: Fred Missele Jr.

Fred Missele Sr. was a man that embraced many names: Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Cousin – and to his friends, Babe. But to me, he was simply Grandpa.

Grandpa will forever hold a special place in my heart, not just because of who he was – but also for the manner in which he lived his life. A life full of self-less devotion…

He was your ideal role model – an intelligent, hard-working man that did everything in his power to provide for his family, even opting to go into work despite being retired. And when he wasn’t working or at home, you could expect to find him in the grocery store or gearing up for an upcoming fishing adventure.

For me, though, - which I’m sure is the case for everyone else here today, as well – it’s the memories of the time I spent with Grandpa that I will cherish most of

At a time when the world was at war with itself, the end result was never in question – not with my Grandpa out there defending us. He was proud of the time he spent in the Navy and never minded talking about it.

Like those 20,000 roaring Blackhawks fans that recently honored and applauded Grandpa’s service to the United States - we are also here to thank him for his devotion to this great nation. We will forever be in your debt.

Above all else, though, the love and commitment Grandpa gave to my Grandpa – throughout nearly 70 years of marriage, vigorously represents his unwavering devotion. Their eternal love and commitment to one another has been a great inspiration to me and exemplifies everything that I have and continue to strive for in my own marriage.

If there was ever a love story for us to marvel, that is and always will be it.

We could sit here for days, months, and weeks-on-end reliving memories and the great life lessons my Grandpa has bestowed on us – and it’s heartbreaking to know that he’s not here to make