That Sweet Old Man

Bob’s step-grandfather, Walt Hein, was quite the character. He always tried to come across as gruff, and maybe he was in his younger days, but by the time I met him and he became my official “Pitch” partner, it was clear that the gruffness was just an act. After about a year, he dropped the act entirely. He was a big softie, and he knew it. I first met Walt…though I always called him Grandpa…in 1975, when he was 69 years old and pretty set in his ways, but that didn’t stop me from liking him right away. I was never much of a card player, except for Cribbage with my Uncle Bill Spencer, but I’d play “Pitch” with Grandpa. We were both ruthless, and most folks didn’t stand a chance against us.

He was a softie when it came to our girls, Corrie Petersen and Amy Royce too. He let them chase the chickens on the ranch and took them for rides on the horses. They loved doing both, and they adored Grandpa. He had a sort of “swimming pool” out in the yard, and he was always happy to fill up that old bathtub so the girls could cool off and have some fun. Grandpa was an “old softie” not just with my girls, but with all his grandchildren.

Grandpa always had a habit of heading out to one of the ranch’s outbuildings for his afternoon nap, usually about an hour long. Afterward, he’d be bursting with energy and ready to jump back into playing cards, which would’ve been the main event of our visits if he had his way. He hated going into town to see other relatives because it cut into his card-playing time. I always felt bad when we had to leave—not because I was eager to see the rest of the family, but because he seemed truly heartbroken. Since he didn’t get to play much when we weren’t around, he wanted to make the most of it, though Grandma sometimes had other plans. Poor Grandpa…it could ruin his whole day. Maybe that’s why he took those naps. He missed us. I know that now, because I really miss those days. Today is the 120th anniversary of that sweet man’s birth. I still miss him very much. Happy birthday in Heaven Grandpa Hein. We love and miss you very much.