Eulogy for dad: examples, a template, and what to say

Gentle eulogy for a father

My name is Ryan, and Robert was my dad.

Dad grew up in Spokane, the son of a mechanic, and he could fix just about anything with an engine. When I was eight, he let me "help" him rebuild a 1972 pickup in our garage. My job was to hand him the right wrench. I almost never handed him the right wrench. He'd take whatever I gave him, look at it, and say, "That'll work too." It took us two years to finish that truck. I think it took that long on purpose.

Dad worked for the county for thirty years, and he never once complained about it at the dinner table. He believed a job well done was its own reward, and that you show up for the people who count on you.

He was quiet, but you always knew where you stood. He showed love by checking your tire pressure, by driving through a snowstorm to bring you a part, and by sitting in the third row of every game, school concert, and graduation, wearing the same faded ball cap.

He loved my mom, Diane, for forty-four years. He loved fishing at Lake Roosevelt, a cup of coffee at five in the morning, and his grandkids, who could get him to do anything, including wear a tiara at a tea party. There are photos.

Dad, I still don't always hand you the right wrench. But you taught me that patience is a kind of love, and that most things can be fixed if you're willing to take your time. Thank you for every Saturday in that garage. I love you.

A sample we wrote by hand. The people in it are made up. Yours is written from your own stories.

Eulogy for dad with gentle humor

Good afternoon. I'm Emily, Gary's daughter. Dad would want me to keep this short, so naturally I wrote four pages. Sorry, Dad.

My father had exactly three jokes, and he told them all, at every family dinner, for thirty years. We'd groan. He'd laugh harder. Somewhere along the way, the groaning became the tradition, and I realized the jokes were never really the point. The point was getting us all to the table.

Dad was a high school science teacher and a baseball coach, which meant he had opinions about everything from photosynthesis to infield fly rules, and he'd share both at the same time. Hundreds of his former students and players have reached out this week. Almost all of them mentioned the jokes. Every one of them mentioned that he believed in them.

He was proud of my brother and me in an embarrassing way. He kept every report card. He came to every recital. He once gave a standing ovation at my driving test.

Dad, I'll tell your three jokes at every family dinner. I promise to make everyone groan. Thank you for getting us all to the table.

A sample we wrote by hand. The people in it are made up. Yours is written from your own stories.

Short eulogy for dad

I'm Chris, and Jim was my father.

Dad was a man of few words and a lot of action. He was the first to show up when someone needed help and the last to leave. He taught me to work hard, to keep my word, and to always leave the campsite cleaner than we found it.

Dad, we'll keep leaving things better than we found them. Thank you for showing us how.

A sample we wrote by hand. The people in it are made up. Yours is written from your own stories.