Page created by: The Cole and Anderson Families

May 21, 2019 - happy 83rd birthday dad! We are all gathering in St. Louis this Friday night to have a few beers and watch the Cards lose. If you can make it, we're in a box along the left field line. Ill take a few pictures so make sure to check back here if you want to see how old we all are (except mom)!

May 18, 2018 - at Busch Stadium to watch the cards, I don't blame you dad for not wanting to be here, bit painful to watch the Cards!

May 18, 2017 - it's been two years since dad finally stopped snoring. We will be in St. Louis on your birthday watching the Cards if you want to stop by.

May 18, 2016 - it's been a year since dad became "Rookie of the Year" in heaven.

Obituary

Cecil H. Cole, less than a week away from his 79th birthday, passed away at home in Niles, MI, on Monday May 18, 2015. He was born on May 21, 1936 in Kirksville, MO to Richard and Julia (Karaff) Cole. He married the former Suzanne C. Johnson on June 11, 1960 in Lombard, IL.

Cec received a bachelor's degree from William Jewel College in Liberty, MO in 1958 where he was inducted into the William Jewel College Basketball Hall of Fame. He served in the Marine Corp Reserves from 1954-1962 while receiving a master's degree from Indiana State University in 1961.

A former educator and men's varsity basketball coach in Danville, IL, Cec took the team to the Illinois "Sweet Sixteen" in 1966, and received his private pilot's license in 1969 in West Lafayette, IN. In 1974 he coached the West Lafayette Little League baseball team taking them to the Indiana state finals.

Cec had a successful career with State Farm Insurance that started in West Lafayette, IN as an agent, moved to South Bend as a manager, and finished his career in Muncie where he retired in 2001.

All who knew Cec loved him, with his humor and wit amusing family and friends throughout his life. He enjoyed his family, traveling with his wife, and coaching and encouraging his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed his annual poker gathering with friends, Cardinal games at Busch Stadium, hitting the links, coaching sports teams, and fixing or building anything.


Tributes Read at Service


Grandpa by Daniel Anderson

Christopher Reeve, the original Superman, once defined what it meant to be a true hero. "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles".

My Grandpa was a man of many accomplishments. But had you asked him, what his greatest accomplishment was of his entire life, without hesitation, he would have responded his family. His beautiful wife from the suburbs of Chicago. His three children, each of whom were unique and whom he loved in so many different ways. And finally, his three grandchildren, whom he never neglected to love. If you ever truly spent time with Grandpa when he was around family, you felt the love and the emotion he held for them.

When I think of my grandpa, there are three words that come to mind. The first is family, and the second is humble. I remember in the third grade, in Mrs. Stowe's class, it was grandparents day, and Mrs. Stowe had all the grandchildren introduce their grandparents and say something interesting about them. She started at the other side of the class room, and while other students were sharing their grandparents, I leaned into my Grandpa's ear and I asked, Grandpa, is it ok if I tell them you played for the St. Louis Cardinals?" and my grandpa leaned back, gave me a half smile and shook his head no. So naturally when it was my turn to share, I stood up and said, "This is my grandma. And this is my Grandpa who played for the St. Louis Cardinals". My grandpa blushed and looked at me and smiled, as the whole room erupted in whispers. The whole day my grandpa was interrogated with baseball related questions. Grandpa wasn't the type of boy scout to polish all his awards. Grandpa was the most humble man I ever met, he never bragged (unless he beat you in a game of cards.), he never gloated. And if I could go back to Mrs. Stowe's class I would have introduced my Grandpa has the most loving and humble man I knew. Of course fate had it a different way.

Finally, the last word that comes to mind when I think of Grandpa, is laughter. Grandpa loved to tell jokes. Anyone who knew Grandpa, knows that he could make you cry, piss, die of laughter. Whether it was his infamous jokes or his smart-ass remarks, he could always make you smile.

Like most people, Grandpa had some very tough battles. One tougher than the others, but every time I saw Grandpa, he always greeted me with a smile and the biggest hug. He fought his battles with so much courage and strength. That's how I will remember Grandpa. For his strength, his courage, his laughter, his humbleness, and his family. All of these things derived from his love. The one thing I will always carry with me.

So even though kryptonite can cripple Superman, you are still my hero Grandpa, and you will always be my Superman.


by KIRK ANDERSON
I met Cecil in 1986, after Jolie and I started dating. At that point I knew a lot about Cecil as Jolie had a very close relationship with her daddy, admired him greatly and talked about him frequently.

What I learned about Cecil in the following years I would sum up into the following:
1) A man's man
2) A strong man
3) An unselfish man
4) A family man

Cecil was a man's man. One of the boys. Life of the party. A great athlete. But also true to his word, genuine, respected and loyal. At family or social gatherings people gravitated to Cecil. He had an expansive, warm sense of humor. He was accomplished in life, but was never boastful or self-focused.

Cecil was strong. Physically strong, mentally strong and, most importantly, strong in character. I remember moving the Cole's piano into our house in Noblesville. I was just shy of 29 years old and Cecil was 56. We all know that piano's are heavy. As we wheeled and carried, when necessary, the piano from the driveway to the house, my former brother-in-law and I were on one end of the piano and Cecil was on the other. It was a struggle trying to lift the piano, at least for the two of us on the opposite end of Cecil. I cannot imagine what it is like to have such a dreadful disease as Parkinson's. I marveled at how well Cecil managed to get around until the very end. or example, his process to go up or down stairs as he struggled to get his unwilling legs to move and plant those ginormous feet on the comparatively small steps. I never remember Cecil complaining about his condition unless of course it was in the form of a joke.

Cecil was unselfish. In my mind, a caricature of Cecil would show him handing the shirt off his back to a friend or family member and carrying a heavy load for the both of them. I could not count how often he devoted his time and effort to fixing, remodeling or building something for our house. Never, did he ask for anything in return.

Cecil was a family man. He was a loving and supportive husband and a loving and supportive father and grandfather. He knew how to have fun and joke around and he knew when to be serious. He knew how to temper his approach to dealing with people that made them feel good about themselves. He was affectionate and unafraid to show his feelings towards his family in his own way.

From my perspective, these attributes of Cecil can be summarized into two words - Role Model. A role model on how to be a man. A role model on how to be a good person. When your life is finished, I believe your success is measured by the footprint you leave. Cecil's legacy is strong and can be seen in so many people he has touched in his life. I can see it in his sons and they way they treat their wives and family. I hope you can see it in me as I have looked up to Cecil as a role model in my life. I definitely see it in Jolie. And I see it in his three grandsons , and am proud of the young men they have become. I am sure there has been a similar impact to his former teammates, the kids he has coached, the policyholders he served, the agents he mentored, and the many family members and friends he has encountered throughout his lifetime. And while Cecil may not be here in this physical world now, I am confident he will positively shape and impact the rest of us for our lifetime so that we may carry a little bit of Cecil forward. I consider myself blessed to be a part of Cecil's life.


by GREGG COLE
Eric Idle once said; "life has a very simple plot: first you're here, and then you're not". That should make you smile, it would have made dad smile.

Recently I have heard and read the word "great" used by many when referring to the plot of dad's life. While the simple definition of the word can mean "considerably above the norm or average", here's what it means to me:

"Greatness is understanding that he who laughs most, learns best. It's knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the foundation of our lives from which we make our choices is good and reasonable."

Wouldn't that be great?

So now when I think about what is great and essential about my life, and about those who have helped me become the person that I am, I know there was no greater investment in me than from my dad; although I have to admit that during the last few weeks of his life one day I asked him if I could get him anything; he looked up at me and said, "25 dollars", to which I responded, "why 25 dollars"? And dad said, "Investment!" I remember thinking he should have asked for a lot more.

Dad may be far away even as he is close-by, but wherever he is, I know he's loved me and encouraged me and wanted what was best in life for me, which makes him an integral part of me that I will carry forever.

So I would amend Eric Idles words just a bit to read; "life has a very simple plot: either your great or your not."

Dad was truly great.