The Man Called Apple
He is our Father who is in Heaven. His name is hallowed. His will is done.
Earle T. Holsapple, Jr. was our Head, certainly our Patriarch every minute of our lives with him. He was a benevolent leader. He enjoyed his life, which he crafted with discipline and surety. There was little self-doubt though he could allow for an occasional dissenting opinion. He knew what he knew.
He let us know him through his unwavering view of the world, never steering clear of pit fields. He was a kind man, a generous man, who loved his wife and children and was loyal to his friends. Above all he enjoyed socializing, sharing his thoughts, laughing. He never shirked from his sense of noblesse oblige, which led him to volunteer, engage, step forward at every turn. To whom much was given, much was expected.
In many ways he was a modest man, an unassuming man who lived his life with a clear view of the path ahead. He planned for that path with eyes open. He didn’t fear the future. Instead he maximized every moment of his life. He rose early and followed a carefully balanced life of work, play, healthful exercise, chocolate chip cookies, hobbies, interests and especially friendships.
His writings in letters and journals prove out the assumption that he came early on to his disciplined lifestyle and strong opinions. The abundant record of his life from the writings he saved, show his early determination to make his parents’ farm successful. A very early video shows him riding a horse to the admiration of an assembled group, including his mother, father, brother, other relatives and friends. His skillful horsemanship led him to join the cavalry regiment in the Second World War. This regiment was to have the distinction of being the last horse riding soldiers of any US war.
During WWII, he was captured by the Germans after eluding the enemy for nearly 5 years. When asked about his capture and time as a Prisoner of War, he almost looked surprised that it was of interest. He would then obligingly give scant details. It was clear that he would do this not because being a POW was a painful memory for him, but merely because so much else had gone on in his life that was more interesting to him. He would laugh and say that he didn’t remember much about it. He was not defined by the worst things that happened to him but by the best.
The few details he did offer of his time as a POW was of being marched through the streets of Italian towns, witnessing the Italians, as starving as the Germans, throwing crusts of bread to the American POWs. That kept them alive to see the War end. He spoke of a Nazi that had posed as a prisoner, continually encouraging him to escape, and later recognizing that Nazi from film footage. He resisted escaping then and remained a stable, level- headed person who did not take unreasonable risk and whose firm guidance was well regarded even by the dissenters.
He had life well controlled. He was the Patriarch of the old school. He was the quintessential gentleman of the old school. He thought it was still old school time. He was, in short, a man of his times. He was also a man of the present time in some significant ways. As an 80 year old he mastered the new science of the computer even though those of similar age wouldn’t have thought of taking it on.
Apple entered today’s arena unflinchingly armed with yesterday’s values mostly to the benefit and sometimes to the consternation of the assembled. He knew what he knew and had little patience for those on the other side. This led him to lead with confidence even through the gaps. He was a pleasant man. He lent new meaning to “genteel.� His frequent gentle laugh, punctuating his speech, usually bought him indulgence of his opinions by others. You couldn't not like him, even if you didn’t always agree with him.
He gave much to his community and his world. He stepped up whenever called upon. Undeniably, he gave much to his family even if we wanted more of his affirmation, even if we wanted the torch passed to us. We are left with the certainty that we knew him well and he loved us. He gave us abundant memories of him smiling and showing obvious delight at our visits. His gesture of discernment was simply looking downward and slightly shaking his head, more to himself. The joy in his life prevailed abundantly more than the difficulties he faced.
He was a towering man who was aware that he was a model for others. He never wavered in giving an incredibly unselfconscious example of determination, self- reliance, and joy. He did this, no less so, this past year in the face of incredible debilities. He regained a significant portion of his speech and mobility even as he continued his sense of optimism. He was self-directed. He communicated his thoughts and wishes well with facial expressions, thumbs up, a growing list of words, laughter, smirks, hand gestures, etc. If he suffered from not being understood, he didn’t show it. In fact, he didn’t show much annoyance, frustration, or pain this last year. He did show delight, full awareness of his situation, and determination to make the best of it.
Because he was who he was…a good friend, a fun person, an involved person, he had a following of friends that did not forget him in this last chapter of his life. There was a continuous parade of family and friends who made their way to his door at the House of the Good Shepherd. They seemed to know he would have certainly done the same for each of them.
He knew and we know that Apple lived a complete life. He succeeded to do what he set out to do. He knew this was, in no small measure, due to the unswerving devotion of his wife and partner of 68 years, Jane Reade, who strove to be on the same “wave length� as her husband.
Sometime in the last two years, out of the blue, he offered up this cocktail tribute: “I had a good mother and I had a good father,� which he emphasized with a staccato nod. We had presumed as much. He simply wanted us to know one more time that he knew that he was a fortunate man. He was lucky and we all were lucky to have known him.
