Jožef Čelhar

Jozef Celhar was my grandfather (on my father's side) He was born in the small village of Pivka in St Peter, Slovenia in 1899. As the eldest and only son he inherited the family farm which he then farmed all his life; he got married there, raised his family and ultimately his life ended in the place that was his sanctuary and the center of his world. I only met my grandfather once when I was 9 years old when my father returned his family to Slovenia for a short time and my memories of him were that of a very gentle, kind man. My fondest memories are riding with my grandfather on his horse drawn wagon into the forest to collect fire wood and walking the fields on his farm picking wild strawberries. I would give anything to go back to those times with him but am content to have these cherished memories in my heart instead. My grandfather lived through 2 world wars and a communist regime and survived them all with his family intact but I know from my father that they were extreme times filled with hardship, hunger and poverty. My father describes how scared he and his siblings were as bombs rained down upon them...I cannot fathom or begin to understand the terror that they felt. I only know from my father that my grandfather's strength, courage and resolve kept his family safe and together when so many others around them had their lives destroyed by the tragic events that wars always bring. Although I only knew you for a fleeting moment in my life I am thankful that God gave me that small glimpse of you. I hope that I can see you again until then I will cherish your memory. Pocivaj u miru moj dedek......Jozef