Dad died 6 years ago. His parents divorced when he was REAL small. He saw his father when he was about 18, when dad was heading for Germany just after WWII. He didn't see his father again until 1980. My father & grandfather had a decent relationship from 1980-1986 when my grandfather died. My father told me in 1987, after some prodding by me, that my sister and I were never brought up in the conversation during that 6 year period. When my father was in the hospital in 1982 and I spent a week at my parents, I was told not to answer the phone. Mom expected a call from Kenneth. When I asked why I shouldn't answer the phone, I never got a plausible answer. It wasn't until about 5 years ago that I met my step-grandmother, Kenneth's 2nd wife. She's still living, is 98 years old, is sharp as a tack, but doesn't want to discuss the past. I am left trying to piece things together. That's okay... I retired from my profession a year ago (after 35 1/2 years) and now have some time to do the research.

To this day, I have no idea why my sister and I were left out of the loop. Nice, dysfunctional family, huh?