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Gene Preston posted a condolence
Dear Jim, Nick, Barb and family,
You have my sincere sympathy. This has to be a very difficult time for you. Nick's death marks the end of an era in International Harvester circles. He has always been thought of as the "Old Professor," with anything relating to IH, Farmall, McCormick-Deering and Cub Cadet. Gosh how he knew those tractors - even by part numbers!
My late wife Pat used to joke with Nick telling him that he reminded her of her dad. Nick said he always took that as the best of compliments. We had so much fun dining and visiting with him. Now all that is just a treasured memory for me.
I shall remember Nick Breslawski for many things; his kind gentle manner; his quick smile and firm handshake; his awesome knowledge of anything IH. However, most memorable for me will be his weekly phone calls that always started out with him saying, "It's Nick. How are you doing?"
Indeed, I have been enriched by my good friend's wisdom, compassion and fatherly-like advice during times of personal need. I now feel diminished by his death. My heart is broken.
And so my pal with his trademark farmer's tan and IH cap is gone. His strong, often demonstrated faith assures me that he is in heaven with his beloved Catherine. Together they are catching up on things; where there is no more pain; no more suffering, and they both know all is well.
Rest easy old buddy. Rest easy. I'll see you again someday.
J
Jeff Jung posted a condolence
Jim, Nick and Family:
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. He did a tremendous job in raising the two of you and I know that he will be missed. You will be in my thoughts and prayers and please let me know if there is anything at all that I can do.
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Richard and Linda West posted a condolence
Nick, sorry to hear about your Dad. Our deepest sympathy.
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Sharon Bryce posted a condolence
Dear Ann - I am deeply sorry for the loss of your dear father-in-law. Not only did I meet him years ago at your home during a holiday, I met him at his farm ~ along with my nephew's school class (whom I was "room-mother" for). I was so impressed by his unending knowledge of tractors and his gentle way with the children. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
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angelia and ramiro pacheco posted a condolence
sorry to hear about your lose he will be missed god bless you all.
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Delos Dann posted a condolence
I enjoyed my conversations with Nick about cabbage farming down in Hamlin and about collecting old farm tractors and equipment. It was always a pleasure seeing him at old tractor shows and auctions. The last time I saw Nick, he was leaving the Hamlin Diner shortly after he came home from the hospital. He told me he was going to be leaving for Florida in two days.... Even though Nick was sick, he was very determined!
My condolences to Nick's family.
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Harold/Junia Harrington and family posted a condolence
We are sorry to hear of Nick's passing. He was such a wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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Bill, Laura, Kaitlyn & Joshua Pfennig -IH Club posted a condolence
We offer our deepest sympathies to your family. We pray for your family, that God will embrace you in His loving arms and comfort you with His mercies by flooding your thoughts with the most wonderful, precious memories that only you have been blessed with of Nick. With our sincerest condolences,
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Anne & Tom Elphick posted a condolence
Nick, Jim & Anne
I am so sorry for your loss. My family and I feels that lose also. We will miss Nick a lot.I have very wonderful memories of Nick and his unselfish giving of his time and talents. I don't know what I would have done without him at the time of Dick's death. He worked so hard and was so faithful coming to the house and trying to get all of his tractors running. He made all the arrangements for the auction and took care of many details that I would have never thought of. His was a wonderful friend to Dick and myself. Both of my girls had a great deal of respect for him and thought very highly of him. Dianne was glad she had the opportunity to take care of him in the ICU at Lakeside. I am glad he is no longer suffering and he has gone home to Catherine. I am sure Dick was there to greet him also. God's Blessing to you and your family.
Anne & Tom Elphick
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Bob Boyce posted a condolence
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of Nick.
I'm glad to have knwn him for the brief time that I did.
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Mark~Jenn~Colt~Camryn Breslawski posted a condolence
Grandpa, we had so much fun coming to visit you in Florida. You were so happy there. You were so proud of the only orange tree you had growing in your back yard. I remember you telling us that the oranges were ready and you were out the door in a jiffy picking them to make orange juice for us. When it was time to go home you packed our suitcase full of oranges! Colton thought you were famous because you knew where all the Baseball training camps were and he was able to get autographs! LOL! You put a smile on his face from ear to ear! In the morning and after dinner we would get our walking shoes on and venture out for a long walk. Mark isn't much of a "walker" he gets real beat real fast and complains the whole way. But some how~~some way the walks along your side were different. I would walk behind you guys and just watch and listen. So much to take in and appreciate the words of an old timer. How adorable you were Nick!
Coming to your house for Halloween was a favorite for the kids. The kids would say with thier faces lit up "Grandpa has good candy and he gives us a bunch" Again, you put smiles on their little faces.
It was hard seeing you in the hospital and you going through all that pain. The kids had some wonderful visits with you. They said that they didn't want you to die. I had to explain to them that you have lived a great life and did everything you set out to accomplish in your life time. I told them that this was your time and that God and Grandma were preparing for your arrival. I told them that we now have to prepare for his departure. I wish you could have departed on that plane to Florida like you wanted to. I wish we could have visited you one last time in Florida! Our memories are vivid and our hearts are heavy but we find comfort in knowing your pain is gone and your with Grandma B. We will miss your Tractor Shows that not only brought people from all over the city and state together~~ but also brought the "Breslawski Family" together.
As you lay in the hospital bed I remember making mention of your big hands and how much they have seen and done. There was no more work to be done and it was time for those big tough hands to take a long deserved break. We know you are working on your tractors in heaven and taking those long walks with Grandma Hand and hand.
Loved and Cherished~~~~~~
Mark~Jenn~Colt & Camryn.
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Gene Preston posted a condolence
Hey "Mr. Nick," Gene here again. Well, everything went well. All your friends made the line go on forever at Fowler's on Thursday. And I bet you really loved the service your proud family put together for you yesterday at SEAS. Both days I had my big IH flag out front; the same flag I'd bring to your shows. You sent us bright sunshine; I knew you would. We humble pallbearers felt so honored to be part of your church service. Charlie M, Ray, Tim, Steve, Charlie H, and I will never forget it. As expected, many of your old pals were in church and even though they tried hard; lots of tears were running down faces. The music was all your favorites. Wonderful hymns, and the Dady's were awesome with, "Never Grow Old." For your eulogy I told of special times with you and the fun you caused. I am so grateful for being allowed to do that. I had to mention our special "Tailgate talks" at your shop. Fathers Bill and Bill were right on target with the beautiful service - like many; they also wore your show buttons. An excellent lunch afterward gave all a chance to talk more and meet even more family. Now I know why you talked of them often. What a grand family! Over lunch I told several how you and I always refused to say, Good-bye" to each other - it was simply, "Solong." I drove past your place on my way home and saw the red roses on the farm sign by your house. I thought that was an ideal ending to a graceful final day for my best old buddy. I'm sure you and Catherine are strolling around heaven by now where everything is perfect. Don't forget, you told me you'd say "Hi" to my Pat for me. I know she is there. I'll catch up with you again someday Mr. Nick. Have your tailgate down and ready for us to sit and talk. I miss you already.
Solong!
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Tom Breslawski posted a condolence
As I sit here trying to compose my thoughts about my Grandpa, I realize that it's simply impossible to sum everything up that he's meant to my life over 33 years. I remember being a child and Grandpa was a busy farmer, working because the work needed to be done. Not complaining, because that's not what his generation did. He founded the family business which was eventually passed down to my father, and where I have worked most of my life. This gave me the unique experience of being able to not only have my Grandpa as a part of my life for so long, but also to see him daily where I work. Grandpa no longer owned the farm, but was still a fixture, living on site in the old family farmhouse, and for several years assisting with planting and combining. It was Grandpa who first showed me how to operate the combine, an intimidating job to me at the age of 17, but Grandpa had full confidence in me, and soon I was operating the machine efficiently and unsupervised. And of course there was his tractor collection and yearly tractor show. Generations of Hamlin residents will remember this show for the rest of their lives, and I was proud to help Grandpa out with it in many years. But the single moment that I'll remember most was when I saw a different side of him. It was 1999 and my Grandmother was horrible sick and did not have long to live. My brother Michael and I went to the house with dad to see her for what would be the final time and I saw my Grandfather, hard working, tough and busy Nick Breslawski kneeling beside his wife on the sofa and spoon feeding her. Just trying to sustain and comfort her. He was so patient and caring, she was so sick. I'd never seen Grandpa, the caretaker, before. This great man loved his wife and was doing anything he could to ease her suffering. Grandma passed shortly after, and Grandpa was heartbroken, but went on. But I'd seen a whole new side of Grandpa that as a child I had never seen, or at least never noticed before. Over the past 10 years I had the privelidge of continuing to see Grandpa daily at work, where we developed a close relationship. I'd often be the only family member who worked in the buildings instead of the fields, so Grandpa and I would talk daily. We were close, he supported me. Before leaving for Florida in 2007 he assured me that he was my "first vote," that I was "already ahead by one" and he wasn't worried at all that I'd win. And after winning, he was the first call of congratulations that I recieved. He accepted my wife from the moment I introduced him to her at the tractor show, smiling and talking to her like she was a long time member of the family and always taking the time to talk to her when we got together. It seemed like Grandpa was so tough, that nothing could stop him. He was even able to come back from surgery last year and run his one final tractor show last summer. But time finally caught up and reality has now set in. He's gone from us, but up in Heaven with God and finally reunited with Grandma. You can finally rest Grandpa, we love you and we'll see you again one day. - Tom & Annie Breslawski
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Jenn Breslawski posted a condolence
Thinking about you while I was driving the other day and to my surprise~~~I was following your truck. {Not even in our little town} Greece of all places. With the sticker on the back "If it aint RED, leave it in the SHED". Jim was driving. Wanted to wave but didn't know if he knew it was me or not. Dont really know if i'd get a wave back to be honest. Ow Grandpa Nick~~ I wish the Breslawski side was closer and could communicate with eachother. Please help Put the words in our hearts and bring us together like you did at your Tractor Shows. I think we are all missing eachother in one way or another. Love to you now and always. XXXOOO
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Bob Breslawski posted a condolence
To Nick, Jim, Barb and all of your families I found the writing of young Tom to be so indicative of everything that Breslawski stands for. I'm sure each of you can remember stacking cabbage one at a time together in Walker when neither family could afford a cold storage of our own. I'll cherish these memories forever. Your Dad and my Dad lived a few miles apart but boy were they alike.
I'm proud to be Nick Breslawski's nephew.
