Survived by a daughter, Debra; son, Mike; two granddaughters, Korrie and Kellie; three great-granddaughters, Leila, Tess and Hannah.
He died of Alzheimer's Dementia, a disease that has no known cause, no treatment, or prevention. As each brain cell is destroyed, so slowly is every voluntary and involuntary bodily function. It is an arbitrary act of nature, and an affront to the humanity of the victims. There is no dignity in a death from Alzheimer's Dementia.Our society has developed mixed and demeaning messages and laws of what is legal of dying with dignity, about who should live and who should die, and when. We must follow a protocol that produces for the death of an Alzheimer's victim and their family a despairing future. Warehouses have been developed for, at great expense, keeping a body "alive" after all thought processes have vanished. Few tragedies are more expensive than Alzheimer's Dementia.
I, (wife, Louise), wanted to donate his brain to the Alzheimer's Association, but the protocol and red tape involved was so demeaning and seemingly meaningless, that I have chosen against it. His body will be cremated with none of the sophistry of funeral services or burial.
I do not wish to take anything away from his 60 years of productive and compassionate life when I request no flowers, no food, no phone calls, and no visitors. I chose to keep him home until he died.
I would like to thank all the people at Columbia Creekside Home Health Care, especially Byron and Rob, for their humane assistance and support.
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