Our family had a very happy/sad time celebrating Pop's life today. It was a wonderful service with many folks sharing about Pop, what he meant to them, and how he had impacted their lives. We expected a crowd of 50 - 60 people as Pop far outlived all his contemporaires, but the church was full--we saw old friends and neighbors that we hadn't seen in over 40 years. John's sisters and bother were amazed by the turn out for their father.

Following the graveside service, the whole family went back to the house where we spent the afternoon and evening visiting and talking about old times and growing up in the neighborhood. One by one different families started to leave to head on home. Some tentative plans were made to come to Minnesota for summer visits.

Pop's Life Verse - Micah 6:8

"What does the Lord require of you, to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

This scripture was what Emil Maxwell Lavin lived.