Hi Guys, Today is my birthday and for a gift the Lord called my dad home after a 13 month battle with cancer. My dad was only 67 years old. My dad, Barry Haugen, was one of those rare souls that was truly blessed with the gift of being "mechanical". He had an intuitive sixth sense for engines whether they were in cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats or whatever. He came of age in the '50's, graduated high school in 1959 and was a hardcore hot rodder. He naturally became a mechanic for a living and developed quite a reputation and following in the Northwestern part of Wisconsin. He had people coming from long distances, some times a couple hundred miles, just to have him work on their stuff. He could listen to an engine, tell you everything that was wrong with it and then give you an estimate of how much it would cost to get everything back in order. Unfortunately, he developed a problem with the drink that ultimately cost him his marriage and livelyhood and it drove a wedge between us. We spent many years apart and then about two years ago, by and through the grace of God we reconciled and had been rebuilding our relationship ever since. I was truly blessed to have the last couple of years with him and in fact will be picking up a '60 Bel Air tomorrow that we were going to work on together with my oldest son. The father/son relationship has been discussed many times here on the HAMB in the past and I think everyone here understands how truly important that relationship is. So...if you are a dad, or a son, and you are apart or your relationship is broken, lose that pride or do whatever you need to do and make things right. Please trust me when I say you'll NEVER regret it. I love you Dad, you are my hero and I'm going to miss you. - your loving son, Steve
Man, my prayers are with you and your family, I know he will be looking down on you with pride while you and your son work on the new rod.
I am sorry for your loss . My thought and prayers go out to you and your family . He is now safe and well in Hot Rod Heaven ! RIP Barry Haugen !
GOD BLESS YOU man! I am sorry for your loss, and at the same time your story has made me grateful for the time I've had with my own dad. Thankyou.
Sorry for your loss. My son has not talked to me for over 6 years. Even when I had my stroke in 2005 he hung up on his stepmom when she told him abourt me. You were lucky to have your dad as long as you did. I lost my dad when I was 12 and I never got over it. I know my son loves mustangs and he is missing out on a lot since I have 6 street rods and a large shop he knows nothing about.
Wow Steve, You were lucky to have your Dad....and your son is even luckier to have you. We're here for you. Have fun w/the Bel Air, keep us posted on that. Trout
i know how you feel buddy,you're not alone.Glad you reconciled with him. You'll always have that. God Bless.
I understand your loss and what you are going through now. I am about to loose my 64 year old brother to cancer. He is in his final days now. R.I.P Barry
Hey Guys, I would like to thank everyone that has replied to my original post and to those guys that pm'ed me. It means a lot to me and my family. Thor
Your story sounds like my brother's, the drink took over on him, he lost out with his kids growing up. At the end he made it right with his kids, he was 62 years old, he also died from cancer. God bless you, and your family, and for you getting back together with your father.
I'm sorry to hear of your loss. You both should be proud of the reconciliation between you two. I'm sure he'll be watching over the progress you make on that car. RIP Barry......& keep hotroddin'. And I think the same holds true for the dad/daughter relationships. It did for me and my dad.
jalopy gal, Thanks for the kind words. I agree with you that dad/daughter relationships are just as important as father/son relationships - but they are different. Thor
So Sorry for your loss. If you're close to either parent it can be very difficult to loose them. I lossed my father when I was only 21 and we were very close... May he R.I.P.
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