For this veteran, it truly was a wonderful lIfe

For 97 years my friend, Victor Bergquist, modeled gratitude.

Long before Hollywood film director Frank Capra introduced us to a thankful George Bailey, Vic was celebrating his own wonderful life.

Vic began running the marathon of life on Nov. 11, 1918, the day the Allied Forces declared victory in World War 1. The morning he was born, Vic's father heard the whistle at his workplace. Mr. Bergquist couldn't imagine how word of his firstborn's birth had reached the mill so soon.

When he realized the whistle meant the war was over, a grateful (and patriotic dad) named his son Victor in honor of the armistice.

When I met Vic a dozen years ago, it dawned on me just how perfect his name was for a boy who learned early on how to claim victory in the midst of defeat. When he was 9, his mother died unexpectedly. The grief-stricken boy took refuge in the knowledge that his Heavenly Father would not let him go.

Graduating from high school in 1936, Vic never found himself unemployed. He discovered work was plentiful if a guy was willing to do whatever. His regular paycheck was a source of gratitude.

As a young husband and father of a 2-year-old son, Vic was drafted in 1944. In spite of the fact that his wife was pregnant with their second child, his love of his country gave him cause to be grateful for the privilege of serving his Uncle Sam.

When his baby girl was born the following year, Vic rejoiced that he would be granted an early discharge. Vic kept finding blessings to count as he settled into a career as a successful salesmen.

Born the same week as Evangelist Billy Graham, Vic's life was punctuated by a similar passion. Both men were committed to point others to the One "from Whom all blessings flow." His gratitude for his wonderful life could not be contained. He was consistently inviting others to experience what he believed to be the source of his happiness.

Just like Billy Graham, Vic found in God's Word a book that was bound to be cherished and shared. Although he was discharged from the Army in 1945, Vic remained a soldier. He enlisted with Gideons International and served faithfully for more than 70 years. Vic loved giving Gideon New Testaments to soldiers and students.

As I got to know Vic, I discovered that every day was Thanksgiving Day for this positive pilgrim. Three little words dominated Vic's vocabulary, "Thank you, Lord!" As we sat beside one another at a weekly prayer meeting, his predictable prelude punctuated our time of intercession with reminders of God's faithfulness.

Although his blessed life was marked by success in business, meaningful involvement with his local church and a 66-year marriage to "Queen Esther," his precious mate's death proved harder than he even imagined.

Vic leaned on the Lord like never before and learned that gratitude in the midst of grief is possible. He was grateful his oldest son and his oldest grandson had followed calls on their lives into pastoral ministry. He gave God thanks that his contagious faith had been successfully passed on to future generations.

A year ago, Vic was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Still, the thankful heart of this veteran of gratitude didn't skip a beat. He looked forward to Heaven. He was excited to be reunited with loved ones like his wife who waited for him on the other side.

On more than one occasion, Vic had confided to me how much he longed to see his mother. With tears in his eyes, my friend confessed that he had pined for her since her death some nine decades before. One of the tangible reasons he was so grateful for Heaven was the fact that he'd be able to wrap his arms around a woman who left him too soon.

That reunion took place exactly a week after Thanksgiving Day.

• The Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos is a former Naperville resident who writes regularly about faith and family.