Obituary
Obituary for a father
A father's obituary usually carries his work, his service and his family, but the lines people remember are the small ones: the garden, the ballgame on the radio, the way he fixed everything. Keep the facts in the usual order and add one or two of those details.
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On this page
The examples on this page were written for TributePen. The people, names and details in them are invented: use them as a starting point, never as someone's real story.
Details that bring him back
Ask each sibling for one thing Dad always did. You will get the barbecue, the car he kept for twenty years, the Sunday call, the jokes. Choose one or two and put them in the life story. They are what his friends will quote to each other at the visitation.
Examples
Raymond Doyle
formal≈ 1 min 05 sec read aloudRaymond Patrick Doyle, 80, of Boston, Massachusetts, died on September 24, 2026.
Ray was born in 1946 in Dorchester to Patrick and Nora Doyle. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968, including a tour in Vietnam, and returned home to a thirty-five-year career as a firefighter with the city. He retired as a lieutenant.
He was a devoted husband, a proud father and a lifelong member of his veterans' post. He coached youth hockey for twenty years and never missed a Sunday dinner.
Ray is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anne; his children, Sean (Kate) Doyle, Maureen (Joe) Flanagan and Brian Doyle; seven grandchildren; and his brother, Michael. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Eileen.
Visiting hours will be held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday at 10 a.m., followed by burial with military honors.
Ed Larsen
warm≈ 57 sec read aloudEdward "Ed" Larsen, 84, of Fargo, North Dakota, died peacefully on September 29, 2026.
Ed grew up on a farm near Moorhead and worked for thirty-eight years as a machinist. He was a man of few words and many repairs: if it had a motor, a hinge or a leak, Ed could fix it, and usually did, without being asked.
He loved early mornings, fishing on the Red River and the same brand of coffee for sixty years.
He is survived by his wife, Marlene; his daughters, Susan (Dale) Berg and Karen Larsen; and four grandchildren who each own a toolbox he gave them. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Arne.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, October 2, with lunch to follow.
Victor Nguyen
simple≈ 44 sec read aloudVictor Nguyen, 69, of Houston, Texas, died on September 22, 2026.
Victor came to the United States in 1980 and built a successful auto repair business over thirty years. He was known for fair prices, long hours and the photos of his grandchildren taped to every wall of the shop.
He is survived by his wife, Lan; his children, Kevin Nguyen, Tina (Sam) Tran and Brian Nguyen; his stepdaughter, Jessica Pham; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mai, the mother of his three eldest children.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, October 4.
Phrases to reconsider
- "Devoted husband and father" is fine once; the rest of the obituary should show it.
- "Lost his battle" can feel harsh to some families; "died after a long illness" is simpler.
- Avoid listing every employer; the one he talked about is enough.
For the speech, see eulogy for dad; for sympathy notes to the family, see sympathy messages for the loss of a father.
Common questions
How do you mention military service in an obituary?
Name the branch and years, and the war or era if relevant, for example "served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970, including a year in Vietnam." Mention military honors in the service details. Check everything against his discharge papers.
How do I list a father's children from two marriages?
List all his children together, or group them by marriage if the family prefers. Mention his current spouse first, and a former spouse only if the family agrees.
Related guides
- Obituary for a motherThree complete obituaries for a mother, and what to include.
- Obituary examplesNine samples, traditional to personal, with notes.
- Eulogy for dadFor fathers of few words, and the stories that speak for them.
- Sympathy messages for the loss of a fatherWhat to write to someone who lost their dad.