One warm evening in the summer, I asked my grandfather to tell me about his life. Across the smoky bonfire, his eyes sparkled with delight. Well, it just so happened one September 13th in the year 1935. Minnie and Otto brought me into this world, and evidence of that is clear. They gave me charm and a good strong back- and those have served me well. As soon as i could take a step, I wanted for a nice sturdy stick. To beat away all the pretty girls who came courting me with kisses and candies. Too eager and they'll never tempt me, but I'll never forget "whatshername". I knew that I was quite a catch, and needed a love to match. It was in our family's home that my mother brought me here. My siblings Jim, Bette, and Faye made my companions in Wittenberg. We fished, and ran, and ate corn, and built mammoths of aviation. Trouble we caused and trouble we got. Still, what an adventure. After Wittenberg high, I signed on to serve the nation's needs. Death thought he had me then, but home from Korea I came. I had fought enough and wanted peace and a woman to call my bride. So then one fateful evening at a bar north of town, the one I had searched for long and hard appeared before my eyes. A friend had introduced us. We smiled, and danced, and dreamed. I talked and talked and talked. She listened, and she listened, and listened. Only a few months later, I married Beverly and treasured her- for I had finally met my match. Her kindness, generosity, and patience bless her darling heart. Who but she could wrangle such a jolly and handsome rover? Beverly and I had adventures then. We made a family. Wendy and David joined us, and made our family whole. They would go off to start families of their own, and give us more rug rats to spoil. As for myself? I traveled all over and charmed and gabbed and lived the busy, bustling life of the salesman. You'd be forgiven for laughing, but this is true I say- many said I was the best at my trade. Best there was, to be exact. As for the way I lived? I didn't hold back. I laughed, and joked, and charmed. People knew me all over the world. You can laugh again, that's fine. But anywhere you go with me, your shock might cause a scene. As random passers by call out "IF THAT ISN'T JACK SCHELLIN!". It wasn't always perfect, but in a way it was. I took flight when I was so inclined. I bought lakefront houses on a whim. I fixed what was broken- or close to fixed at least. I always offered wisdom, and often nonsense too. My stories they were tall, and my jokes were often blue. My beautiful bride was always there, just happy to keep me fed. She listened to my jokes, sometimes. She saved my life a time or two. The life I had, I owed to her. She gave me my family. Such a big audience to entertain, so many adoring hearts. They'll tell my story when I'm gone. And many won't believe them. But I was the best salesman in the world, and I was adored long beyond my last breath. What more could an old fart like me ask for? Jack left us peacefully on August 2nd. But his story will go on.                                                                  Written by: Chris Uhrich