_In Loving Memory_
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Tom G. Sargis Sr., 1927 - 1998...........Ruth Anne (Yates) Sargis, 1932 - 2001
On Wednesday, 11 April, 2001, my Mother passed away suddenly, unexpectedly. I never thought this day would come. I can't believe I'm writing these words. I can't believe that any of this has happened. I can't believe I'm even experiencing these things, but I am. I no longer have any parents since my Father also passed away 27 July, 1998. Just more proof that "life goes on" I guess.
This portion of my website I want to devote to my parents. Never having made their acquaintance, most of you may not care about my Mom and Dad, understandably, but it's just something I have to do. I always bragged about them in life, but now I want to brag to the world how great my parents were, and how much they affected the lifes of my brothers and myself. And for that matter, all the people that ever knew them or came to know them.
My Father was born in Chicago, 4 March, 1927. The second of three children, he was named after Tom Mix, my Grandpa's favorite radio star! He lived in what is now "Old Town", currently an affluent, rebuilt part of Chicago, outside of downtown. Yuppies and brownstones. When HE lived there it sure wasn't! It was a poor neighborhood. He lived on Sedgwick St., and experienced the Depression, and the gangster era first hand. He told me stories of fighting with friends over their apple-cores and of potatos cooked in street fires. Of playing kick-the-can, and gangsters being machine-gunned while getting their hair cut in the corner barbershop. His cousin, Sam Joseph (the most decorated policeman ever on the Chicago P.D.) got spanked (beat?) by his Mother for bringing home a hankerchief dipped in Dillinger's blood in the alley next to the old Biograph Theater! What a childhood, huh? My Dad later quit LaSalle High School to join the Navy (Fireman First Class) to go "fight the Japs" for the duration of W.W. II and spent his time on the U.S.S. New Jersey (BB 62). His Father (George) had been in the U. S. Army (horse drawn artillary unit!) in Europe during W.W. I. After getting out of the Navy, my Father finished his learning (at Washburn Trade School) and working in his trade, as a Tool and Die Maker. I have to thank him (and actually DID many times!) for teaching me so much that he knew! I am so proud of my Dad for all that he did for his country and his family. My Dad and Mom worked, scrimped and saved hard, and he was able to retire at age 55, his lifelong dream and goal. I must remember too, a few weeks before my Dad died, him talking about how he and my Mom were able to enjoy 16 good years of retirement, unlike most people that seem to always die as soon as they retire. Weird how life works.................
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My Mother was born in Dixon, Ill., (also a childhood home of Ronald Reagan, BOTH great Americans!) 30 July, 1932 of "stock" that was here since the Revolution. English and German from "Pennsylvania Dutch" country! She experienced what could best be called a 'Depression Era', very rural childhood; horses, goats, bare feet and all. She was, I believe, the third of ten children. She lived out her formative years there in Dixon, only to move to the "big city" in her later (post war) teen years. She wanted to 'bust out' of the small town and try to "make it". Upon moving to Chicago she bacame a waitress in a very fancy restaurant downtown, and continued that time honored tradition all the way up until she and my Father eventually retired. Anyway, after her first few of years in Chicago, she and my Father met, fell in love (he had a "thing" for redheads!), and married. One year later, I was born, followed by my Brother Steve, and then Dave, all two years apart. My Mother was one of the greatest cooks I've ever met. She also had an unequaled love for wildlife, nature, flowers, trees and plants (oh, the plants!), but at the same time, I will NEVER forget when she got mad at the way things were going with Bill Clinton, and she actually joined the National Rifle Association! Mom?!? I couldn't believe it, we had a good laugh over that! She was also forgiving and kind, and almost never held a grudge. She was the best, and I'll miss her and my Dad soooooooooooo very much!
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During my childhood, my parents were very strict with us kids. We behaved in public, or else. They taught my brothers and I to respect others, that prejuduce was a bad thing, and that God should be one of the most important things in our life. They took us to church every Sunday (Lakeview Bible Chapel) and we prayed at every meal. Loving to travel, my parents took us kids all over this country by car, almost every single state and all the provinces of Canada, even Alaska! They taught us to work hard for the things we may want in life, and that NOTHING came easy. Allowances to my folks meant 50 cents a week (and we had to work for that!). They also knew and were grateful for the freedoms we have as Americans. And I can't help but mention that they realized and saw and were depressed by what was happening in this country since the 1960's, but now is not the time for politics. I remember vividly my Father taking me out and teaching me to shoot at the age of about 6 or 7 years! (I must admit, I still wonder to this day how come my brothers and I never wanted, or even considered, taking any of the family's easily available guns to school to settle some argument, hmmm?!) I don't remember my parents ever really fighting with each other, over anything. Maybe they DID, but they never let US know about it. I remember thinking how lucky we kids were when I heard of other people's parents getting divorced, or them fighting all the time. I saw how my Father and Mother took care of my aging Grandmother for the longest time until they were both in such ill-health, they just couldn't anymore. Then my Dad's sister Lillian Tamraz took over. They just don't seem to make 'em like this anymore as far as I'm concerned.
* But of course, I'm biased. *
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On a final note; as much as my Brothers and I and our wives may miss my Mom and Dad, as much as we may cry from our loss, as sad as we may all get, and even though they left this world MUCH too early, we all know that because of their deep belief in God and the fact that he sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for all of our sins on the cross, that they are now together again, in Heaven, as happy as can be.
May you rest in peace with the Lord, Mom and Dad. No more sore back and aching feet Dad, no more asthma Mom, totally happy.................at last.
~ We dedicate this to our Mom and Dad, from your loving sons, this day, 20 April, 2001, "We love you and miss you!" ~