On a crisp Saturday in late February, the man who gave me life and created my love of entrepreneurship passed away peacefully with his wife, children, sons in law, three grandchildren and one great grandchild at his bedside.

My dad came from nothing... literally, his parents lived in a two bedroom house, roughly 700 square feet and they raised 4 boys and 2 girls there. My dad and his brothers slept on a rollaway bed in the living room.

He went on to create a successful Insurance and Real Estate business in a small, rural community, Aledo IL. I'll never forget the day he called to tell me that his business had earned its first million. He was so proud. And, the pride I felt for him that day, really every day, was beyond measure.

He raised 4 girls and 1 boy, each of us unique, yet the same. We all share our dad's love of sports, sense of community and affection for a laugh. Three of us have owned our own businesses... so the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

Speaking of community... he coached and played in a men's slow-pitch softball league most of his adult life. He only stopped playing 5 years ago. Recently he was inducted into the Senior Softball Hall of Fame, an accomplishment that may have meant more to him than his successful business.

He was a musician. He had a band in his younger years, and music was always a big part of our home life. I treasure memories of me and my two sisters singing gospel music in our family churches through the years. And enjoyed even more watching my dad play with friends and neighbors at neighborhood parties and community events. In 1960, his band played at a rally stop for John F. Kennedy.

He had a song for each of us... Mom's was Silver Wings and mine was Funny Face. He used to sing me to sleep with that song. And, whenever I'm sad, it's still my go-to.

He was an artist... when he built my mom a "big" house in our home community, he installed a playroom for us kids. And, he hand painted the Disney and Peanuts characters on each wall. He stenciled for many in our community, Old English font was his signature!

And when I created Brown Dog Foundation in my pet's memory, my dad served on the Board and helped me start up services in our hometown area. He supported each of his kids wherever our passions took him.

"We can go to our grave knowing that in this life, we loved each well," was the single most beautiful thing he said to me during his battle.