Gold Nugget

Looking through the memoirs of my grandfather, Rudolph Lewis Mark, I found a gold nugget. It was a letter that he wrote in 1957. Although I had read many of his poems, this writing was new to me. He was  my mother's father who experienced a good life in the midst of struggles and setbacks. Leadership comes to us in many forms. Grandpa Mark was a special kind of leader. His history includes his thirty-three year employment at the LaCrosse Rubber Mill Factory in La Crosse, Wisconsin until his retirement.  Here is his letter: 

                                    My Life                                        

As I look back over the events that have taken place in my life, I believe it may be of some encouragement to someone on whom lady luck or fortune has not smiled too favorably.

I am the second child of a family of twelve children, born to a farm couple of very moderate means – but I had a vision of what I would desire to have for my family and determination to achieve that goal. I tried to make of myself a good citizen and a good provider. But lady luck did not smile upon me favorably as in my early twenties I was stricken with pneumonia which left its stain upon me for life as my doctor told me that the fever had settled in my right knee. In 1914 I had another operation but it was not a success and in 1915 I had (yet) another operation without much more success. But still determined to succeed, I married in 1917 a wonderful helpmate and we started to build a home together. About two years after our first daughter was born, I was forced to have another operation for re-section of my knee-joint and was laid up for two and one-half years. After this I went to work at a factory and raised a family of four children. But in 1936 I had the misfortune to loose my left eye—but still not defeated, I continued to keep on working.

Now at the age of 68 years I am retired after having had 10 operations, both major and minor. I have not been able to accumulate a great fortune but we own our own home and are comfortable. Our children have all established their own homes.

I am not writing this story in self-pity or for sympathy but I write this to show that with faith in GOD and a true helpmate and determination and will-power no man can be defeated.

 

R.L. Mark

1957