Thanks so much for all the prayers and words of love and condolence. We appreciate it. It just sucks to lose your daddy.
We weren't ready to say goodbye. He was only 60 years old ane you're never ready when it's your best friend, dad and hunting buddy. Dad had been sick for about a month and a half. Maybe even longer, but the puking and other stomach problems had been dragging on for a month or so. We thought it was a virus or something. Then the pain started. He wasn't able to eat at all without great pain and getting sick. The doctors thought it may be his gal bladder, so he had it removed last Monday. He was still very sick and in alot of pain though.
He couldn't take it anymore and asked to go back to the hospital on Friday evening. All day Saturday they tried to figure out what was going on with him and finally a surgeon came in and said he thought maybe there had been decreased blood flow to the stomach. He thought maybe some arteries were clogged. Dad's had atherosclerosis for over 20 years (weak arteries...spongy and prone to collapse and calcify) and we kinda always knew he was on borrowed time.
He had his first open heart surgery when he was just 38. That was in 1986. He's had another one since then and had battled cancer twice, caused from exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He beat it though, and the scans he had to have every 3 months also helped pick up some other problems (carotid arteries blocked, brain aneurysm, kidney probs..etc.). He was living in a body that was damaged, but he was doing a helluva job living.
We decided not to make him fight anymore this time though. When the surgeons came out to talk to Mom, Grizz and me in the hospital waiting room I knew it was bad news just from the looks on their faces and their demeanor. They had decided to open him up to see what they were dealing with and it was just really bad. They told us the small bowel was necrotic...dead. The stomach was "dusky" and it just didn't look good. They could've taken out most of the bowel and stomach, but he would've been on a nutrition line pack thing forever. He'd never be able to eat again. And even if he survived that surgery, they weren't sure what his quality of life would be and he'd still need another major surgery to replace arteries in the stomach. Arteries to major organs (liver...etc). He may not have ever made it out of the hospital.
They explained all this to us and then said, "We can make him comfortable." and this was their suggestion. We were just in shock. "He's dying? This is it???" we were asking ourselves. My mother then asked how long it would be and they told us he would pass within hours. So, we kept him comfortable. We didn't want him to feel any pain anymore. And he didn't. After a brief period of consciousness (he could nod and he understood), we explained the options, told him we were letting him go, and he shook his head in agreement. He passed away peacefully at 5:58 am Sunday morning.
Alan Oleen lived life well. He loved his family above all and was devoted to my mother, Marsha. They enjoyed 37 years of marriage and had 3 kids who they dedicated their lives to. Dad was always our coach, teacher, leader, friend and our greatest mentor and buddy. He taught us life lessons and everything he thought we needed to know to lead a good life. He instilled a strong work ethic in us and always taught us to never give up.
He loved hunting, fishing, camping, and sports and he never went alone. He always took one of us kids or all of us kids plus some. We always had friends along for the ride. Always. Our friends became his friends too. Other kids were always welcome in Al's house and everyone loved him like a father. He coached for many years...baseball, football, girl's softball and even basketball a few times. He was our 4-H leader and he followed our orchestra around, hauling instruments in his truck, when we went on tour and to competitions. He supported his kids in anything and everything. Never missed a game if he could help it and was our greatest cheerleader.
He was a man who lived without guile. He was just GOOD. He didn't judge people and gave everyone a chance. There was always a 2nd and 3rd and 4th chance with Al. He was such a caring individual. He's the guy who would comfort the crying woman who's dog had just gotten hit in front of her and her 4 kids. Then he'd scrape the dead dog off the road for her and make sure she got home alright. I don't think Al had a single enemy.
And he was FUN. Al was always smiling, laughing and joking around. He was a people person and got along with just about anybody. He loved riding horses in the back country and was a founding member of the local Back Country Horsemen chapter in Uintah County. He loved riding with that crazy group of guys and his best buddy, Gale Robbins. Gale and Al were Call and Gus (from Lonesome Dove) and always had a great time. Al liked to stage shootouts at the food tent during the Outlaw Trail Ride every year too. It was always entertaining and much fun.
In his 6th grade talent show, Al sang a song that really fit his personality. He sang "He's got the Whole world in his hands" and that was true...Al always had the world in the palm of his hand. People were drawn to him and he was good to them all.
He always had the best stories too. He worked in the oilfield for many years as a salesman and he loved it. He loved traveling the roads in "the patch" and going to see folks everyday. He was good at what he did and always gave it 100%.
Al will be missed. So much. He was everybody's favorite guy. He was my favorite guy and I was a Daddy's Girl through and through. He taught me how to throw a baseball and played countless games of catch. He'd get mad at me, "JENNIFER! Don't throw so damn hard!" but then he'd be the one whooping the loudest in the stands when I'd peg a runner out at home from centerfield or nab a runner trying to steal second from behind the plate. "That's my girl!" he'd say and I knew he was beaming because he'd taught me how to throw and that cannon of an arm was his handiwork. I was his girl, but I loved hunting and fishing too, mostly because it was something I was doing with him. I just loved my daddy.
Damn, I'm gonna miss him. Alot.
Al will be buried on a hill above his home in Hayden, Utah, in the Hayden cemetery. He will be buried with full military honors this Friday, March 27th. Rest in Peace, Al. We love ya.
