Grandpa Joe Eulogy

Opening -

I have been given the honor of speaking today honoring the life of this beloved man, Joseph Lee Burrow.

Who was Joseph Lee Burrow?

Well, he went by many different names.

Some of which may be familiar to you,

For instance, “Hook,” was the name he lovingly got from his family after having his nose broken in an amateur boxing match in his early years.

You see, back then he was an amateur boxer at the South Broadway Athletic Club in St. Louis.

Or maybe you knew him by the name “Captain Hook” - which he got on account for his love of all things outdoors.

Including camping, fishing, and even deep-sea fishing, which he enjoyed.

He enjoyed it so much he frequently spent time in Mexico—fishing off the coast of Baja California, south of Mexicali.

He hunted both dove and quail there.

I’ve even been told that he once got up on a pair of water skis, to the delight of his children, James and Marty.

To his beloved nephews, who saw him more as a father figure, they called him “Unca Hook.”

I confess, all this time has passed, and I always thought the hook in his nose was his natural nose.

I didn’t know it was from a boxing injury until a few days ago.

To me, however, he was simply known as Grandpa Joe.

- I didn’t know him

For most people, there is no specific memory of when their grandparents came into their lives.

For instance, for most, the grandparents were always there from the earliest memory.

My cousins Joshua, Jessica, Alicia, Amber or Billy, and our youngest brother Rowdy, had this experience.

That wasn’t the case for me or my brothers Walter, Nico, Chano, or my sister Donna.

I didn’t even know my Grandpa existed until I was ten years old.

In fact, I can remember the exact moment “my” Grandpa Joe came into my life for the very first time.

His eldest daughter, Vickie Jo, my mom, told us kids that we would be taking a trip from where we lived in Chicago on the train to see her dad.

We were so excited.

We didn’t know we had a Grandpa, and now we were going to meet him for the first time.

When we got off the train, there waiting for us was this big, tough, larger-than-life figure who seemed to me like the man of steel.

After getting to know him, I wasn’t surprised to learn that he used to be a rough tumbler in his time.

He had been a boxer, a bouncer, and even a money collector.

Nothing less than his kind of toughness could be expected from a Marine who fought in war in Korea.

Even though we didn’t know him, this larger-than-life man of steel introduced himself, saying,

“Hey son, I’m your Grandpa.”

There are few moments in life where one can truly experience the sincerity of someone’s heart personally.

I can lovingly say that at that moment when I met my Grandpa Joe for the first time in my life, I felt sincerely loved, accepted, and cherished.

Isn’t that funny?

I’d never met him before, but there was no doubt that he loved me and cherished us as his grandchildren.

From then on, even to this present year of 2024, aside from his daughter, my mom, Vickie Jo, my Grandpa Joe was my biggest cheerleader.

He always had nothing but encouraging support for me.

I have to say, I knew my Grandpa was proud of me, for he told me so all the time.

When I played little league baseball, he would give me pointers over the summers.

It was priceless advice too, since he was an avid baseball fan, having played for different leagues during the 1950s.

One of those teams was aptly named for a guy like him, they were called the Warriors, in Collinsville, Illinois.

When his oldest son, Rickie Lee, who 25 years ago, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus,

Got my brothers and I involved in music, I found out that not only was my Grandpa Joe a tough motor-scooter,

He also a musician.

I mean, was there anything my Grandpa Joe couldn’t do?

I am still asking this question.

He even played in bands with friends in California where he played the bass and sang to their favorite songs.

- Country Music Fan

Grandpa Joe loved country music.

Jerry Lee Lewis

George Jones

Merle Haggard,

Or any kind of honky tonk music were his favorites, in that order.

I say in that order because that’s how Grandpa Joe was.

He was a man of order.

For Grandpa Joe was a man who KNEW what he wanted and KNEW what it took to get it.

In wordplay he had all of his vehicles assigned personalized license plates in honor of the family’s last name, “Burrow.”

Burrow = meaning- “Mule” they were Mule this and Mule that.

Mule advertising his “Stubbornness.”

Yes, he was definitely a Burrow.

A testament that often got him into physical confrontations.

They usually didn’t last long because Grandpa was not known to have lost a fight.

There weren’t many confrontations however,

- Storyteller

My Grandpa Joe was a master storyteller of both fact and fiction if you get my meaning.

He was also a great joke teller.

Some of the funniest jokes I’ve ever heard in my life came from my Grandpa’s lips.

As a matter of fact, we still retell some of those jokes

Come to think of it, we still do a lot of the things Grandpa Joe did.

For instance, every year, the entire family eagerly looked forward to his annual Memorial Day BBQ or family reunion.

There we would play one of his favorite games, “Horseshoes.”

He would mercilessly whoop us because guess what?

He was also a champion horseshoe player, winning several trophies.

One of our favorites, like Grandpa Joe’s, was the game of Bottle caps!

If you’ve never played bottle caps, I suggest you try it.

Be warned thought, play it once, and you’re hooked.

Although Grandpa’s legendary swing has passed into eternity, His Sons, James, and Danny, along with his many grandsons, will carry his legacy with them all the days of their lives.

Teaching it to our children and so on.

Just like he did with his nephews behind Pope’s tavern in St. Louis all those years ago.

- Grandpa always built

As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t know my Grandpa Joe until I was ten years old.

Coming from Chicago, from a relatively poor neighborhood, when I arrived at Grandpa’s big house on the hill, I thought he was rich like Donald Trump rich.

We had never seen so much free open grass to run and play on.

We spent hours and hours of pure joy, running up and down his rolling hills on his property.

Not only did my Grandpa have boats plural, but because of where we came from in Chicago, (we barely had a car that ran), Let alone had multiple boats.

But Grandpa did.

He also had a boat house to house the boats.

I remember once, when I was about 15 or so, I was helping Grandpa build something, (He was always building something on his land),

I asked him as I handed him a hammer or whatever, Grandpa, you’ve built the house with your bare hands,

You built the boat house and everything, when are you going to be done building this place?

His words still echo in my ears every time I think of them.

He said, “Son, I won’t be done building this place until I’m gone.”

I don’t think Grandpa knew just how impactful those words would play out in my life.

I teach it to my children, and I’ve used it in my sermons.

You see, God is working in you and I everyday.

And He won’t be done building us, until we meet Him in heaven.

- He lived a long time

My Grandpa lived to be a ripe old age.

He was a provider,

a builder,

a husband,

a father,

He was many things,

He went to church and even served as a Sunday school teacher and deacon.

He served in election duties, and on the Makanda water board.

He was also a member of several fraternal orders.

But it wasn’t until he got older that he started to respond to the call of the Lord on his life.

I mentioned that my Grandpa Joe was proud of me.

I knew because he told me so.

But not always in words.

When I answered the call to ministry and entered Bible college

Just like my little league times, my Grandpa cheered me on.

Even when I went through some dark years before I entered the pulpit, my Grandpa encouraged me.

But, when I went into ministry, my Grandpa followed me.

This elderly man, because he could no longer drive when the years caught up to him

Had my Grandma Lucille, take him to wherever I was preaching.

When I say wherever, I mean wherever.

They drove all the way to House Springs, Mo, to a little church I Co-pastored.

He drove all the way out to Collinsville for our kid’s parties.

He’s visited every church I served at to show his support.

For that, I will always be eternally grateful to both Grandpa and Grandma Lucille.

Even for having received this great honor to speak about this Titan of the family, that my Grandpa Joe was.

Today is the day we have come together to commit Grandpa Joe’s earthly body to rest.

But be sure, today is one of redemption as his soul is without doubt dancing in the presence of Jesus and His holy angels.

Today is a day of reunion.

Not only for Grandpa’s family and friends who have gathered here

But also in heaven, as he is now rejoined with his son Rickie Lee, his, siblings Hazel, Alice, and Carmie & his parents, whom he cared so much for.

Who have preceded him in death quite some time ago.

Instead of sorrow, today is a day of rejoicing as Grandpa’s body suffered here on Earth

Today, he has received his new, glorious, perfect body, amen!

Today is a day of closure.

As Grandpa’s uncertainty here on earth has been made certain, marked by the end of his earthly life.

Here with us today, his earthly body is still here with us

Tomorrow, he will only be with us in our memories

Which is a blessing for us because Grandpa Joe was an expert at making lasting memories.

No matter what, he could always find humor in things.

And he would say the funniest things.

He had a very sharp whit when it came to being funny.

I owe Grandpa gratitude,

As so do many of us here today.

I loved my Grandpa,

Even when the ending years of his life weren’t very kind to his mind or his physical body.

His personality at the end was greatly affected by his earthly battle with Dementia.

But, even through those years, every once in a while,

We were blessed to have moments of clarity, where that old spark of himself plowed through the condition that so gripped his mind.

And where he would create another cherished memory, or say something else very funny.

- His Way

His son, my uncle James, is right when he speaks of Grandpa

He lived his life exactly how he wanted to.

And he was blessed to have lived such a long time.

And so it goes on in the circle of life.

- Last Goodbye

We have gathered here today to say our last goodbye, to his earthly body as we prepare ourselves to be able to join him where he is now.

In heaven with Jesus.

Grandpa Joe was a believer in Jesus and was saved.

And because of that, he is relishing in the arms of his savior.

Now, even though I say this fighting through the many tears

I can now say back to my Grandpa,

“Grandpa, your house is finished now. You can rest. “

We love you

Thank you for being my Grandpa.

But to the rest of you all here with me today, let me say this

When that day comes, when we meet with our earthly end, we, too, can celebrate the fact that

Death on Earth is not the end.

We, too will be where Grandpa is now, in the presence of Jesus.

That promise that Jesus gives us is for eternity,

And since it’s for eternity, when it’s our turn on the circle of life to be completed.

Grandpa will be right there waiting for us, too,

And that day, whenever that may be for each of us, will be a great day of reunion too.

We love you, Grandpa.