Obituary for Father: How to Write Your Dad's Obituary

An obituary for your father has a few things to get exactly right: his full name with any Jr. or Sr., his work or trade, any military service, and every member of his family. This page shows you how to write an obituary for dad in the usual order, with opening and closing lines, a fill-in template and two fictional examples: a warm standard obituary from a son and a short, gently funny one from a daughter.

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Typical length
250-400 words online; 120-200 in the paper
Check carefully
Military branch, years, rank; Jr. or Sr.; union or lodge
Often written by
An adult son or daughter, with his spouse's input
Easy to forget
His siblings, his work friends, the things he fixed

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Obituary for dad examples

Each example below was written by Toastful from the answers shown under it, so you can see exactly how your own stories turn into a finished obituary. Names and details are fictional.

Example 1: Son for his dad, warm and personal, typical online length

307 words

Thomas "Tom" Lindqvist, 77, of Duluth, Minnesota, died on October 5, 2026, in Duluth.

Tom was born on July 8, 1949, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to Arne and Ingrid Lindqvist. He graduated from Two Harbors High School in 1967. From 1968 to 1972, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard, stationed on Lake Superior.

After his service, Tom spent 36 years as an engineer on Great Lakes ore boats. Every spring he shipped out of Duluth, and every winter he came home. He retired in 2010. In 1973, he married Karen Johnson, and they were married for 53 years.

Tom could hear a problem in an engine from across a parking lot, and he would fix it before you finished explaining. He coached youth hockey in Lakeside for 25 years. Every December, he flooded a rink in the backyard for his own children and half the neighborhood. He loved ice fishing, strong coffee and Twins games on the radio. He ended every phone call with the same words: "Keep your feet dry."

Tom is survived by his wife, Karen; his children, Erik (Molly) Lindqvist and Annika (James) Berg; his five grandchildren, Nora, Owen, Liv, Sam and Hazel; and his brother, Nils Lindqvist, of Two Harbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arne and Ingrid, and his sister, Britt.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lakeview Chapel Funeral Home in Duluth. The funeral will be held on Saturday, October 17, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, with Coast Guard honors at the graveside.

Memorials may be made to the Lakeside youth hockey association. The family thanks the hospice team who cared for Tom at home.

Tom's family will remember his steady hands, his open garage and his rink in the backyard. Keep your feet dry, Dad.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter
Writer
Erik, son
Basics
Born July 8, 1949, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to Arne and Ingrid Lindqvist. Died October 5, 2026, in Duluth.
Life story
He graduated from Two Harbors High School in 1967 and served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1968 to 1972, stationed on Lake Superior. He then spent 36 years as an engineer on Great Lakes ore boats, shipping out of Duluth every spring and coming home every winter, and retired in 2010. He married Karen Johnson in 1973.
Personality
Dad could hear a problem in an engine from across a parking lot and would fix it before you finished explaining. He coached youth hockey in Lakeside for 25 years and flooded a rink in the backyard every December for us and half the neighborhood. He loved ice fishing, strong coffee and Twins games on the radio, and he ended every phone call with 'Keep your feet dry.'
Survivors
His wife of 53 years, Karen; his children, Erik (Molly) Lindqvist and Annika (James) Berg; five grandchildren, Nora, Owen, Liv, Sam and Hazel; and his brother, Nils Lindqvist, of Two Harbors.
Predeceased
His parents, Arne and Ingrid, and his sister, Britt.
Service
Visitation will be Friday, October 16, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lakeview Chapel Funeral Home in Duluth. The funeral will be Saturday, October 17, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, with Coast Guard honors at the graveside.
Donations
Memorials may be made to the Lakeside youth hockey association.
Extras
The family thanks the hospice team who cared for him at home.
Write mine with my stories

Example 2: Daughter for her dad, gently lighthearted, short

163 words

Raymond "Ray" Dubois, 79, of Lafayette, Louisiana, died on October 2, 2026, in Lafayette. He was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

Ray ran Dubois Auto Repair on Johnston Street for 41 years. In 1969, he married Claudette Guidry, and they were together for 57 years.

Ray believed there was no problem a crawfish boil couldn't fix. He hosted one every spring for anyone who showed up, invited or not. He danced the two-step at every wedding until the band went home. He told the same three jokes for fifty years and laughed hardest every time. He fixed half of Lafayette's cars, and he charged the widows nothing.

He is survived by his wife, Claudette; his daughters, Monique (Paul) Landry and Renee Dubois; four grandchildren; and his brother, Lucien.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lafayette on [date and time of service].

Ray always said, "Pass a good time, cher." The family asks that you do.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter
Writer
Monique, daughter
Basics
Born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Died October 2, 2026, in Lafayette.
Life story
He ran Dubois Auto Repair on Johnston Street for 41 years and married Claudette Guidry in 1969.
Personality
Daddy believed there was no problem a crawfish boil couldn't fix, and he hosted one every spring for anyone who showed up, invited or not. He danced the two-step at every wedding until the band went home, told the same three jokes for fifty years and laughed hardest every time. He fixed half of Lafayette's cars and charged the widows nothing.
Survivors
His wife of 57 years, Claudette; his daughters, Monique (Paul) Landry and Renee Dubois; four grandchildren; and his brother, Lucien.
Service
Mass of Christian Burial at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Lafayette. The family has not yet set the date and time.
Extras
He always said, 'Pass a good time, cher.' The family asks that you do.
Write mine with my stories

How to structure it

  1. 1

    Get his name exactly right

    Use his full name with any suffix (Jr., Sr., III) and the nickname people actually used, like Robert "Bud" Hanson Jr. Coworkers, teammates and old Army buddies may only know the nickname, so it helps them find the obituary.

  2. 2

    Announce his death with the basics

    His age, hometown and date of death, plus where he died if you like. Leave out the cause of death unless your family wants it included. If he was a veteran, many families mention it right in the first sentence.

  3. 3

    Record his work and service accurately

    Name his trade or career, his employer and how long he worked there, plus any union, lodge or professional group he was proud of. For military service, give the branch, years and where he served. Copy rank and unit from his DD-214 or discharge papers rather than from memory; veterans in the family will notice.

  4. 4

    Show what kind of man he was

    Two or three specific details beat a list of virtues: the truck he kept running for 30 years, the Little League team he coached, the pancakes every Saturday, the way he greeted everyone at church. Pick things the whole town would recognize, not just the family.

  5. 5

    List his family in order

    His wife or partner first (with years married, if you like), then his children in birth order with their spouses in parentheses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his own brothers and sisters. End with "preceded in death by" for his parents, a late wife or siblings.

  6. 6

    Add service details, honors and donations

    Give visitation, funeral and burial details, and mention military honors or a lodge or fraternal service if there will be one. Add a memorial donation wish, such as a veterans' group or a cause he supported, and thanks to hospice or caregivers.

Opening and closing lines

Ways to open

  • “[Dad's Full Name], [age], of [City], died on [date]. He was born on [date] in [Birthplace] to [Parents' Names], and spent [number] years as a [trade or job] at [Employer].”
  • “[First Name] "[Nickname]" [Last Name] [Jr./Sr.], [age], a [branch] veteran and lifelong resident of [Town], died on [date].”
  • “[Dad's Full Name], [age], who could fix anything with [an engine / a hinge / a hymn] in it, died on [date] in [City].”
  • “[Dad's Full Name], beloved husband of [number] years to [Mom's Name] and father of [number], died on [date] at the age of [age].”
  • “Coach, Pop, Grandpa [Name]: [Dad's Full Name] answered to all of them. He died on [date] in [City] at the age of [age].”
  • “[Dad's Full Name], [age], of [City], died on [date], [number] days after [an important date, e.g. his 60th wedding anniversary / his last fishing trip].”
  • “[Dad's Full Name], [age], of [City], retired [job title] for [Employer] and longtime member of [union / lodge / church], died on [date].”
  • “Our father, [Dad's Full Name], died on [date] in [City]. He was [age], and he was proudest of [his family / his years in the Navy / the house he built with his own hands].”

Closing lines

  • “He will be missed by his family and by everyone who ever borrowed a tool and actually returned it.”
  • “In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to [veterans' group, charity or church] in his memory.”
  • “Military honors will be provided by [Branch / Honor Guard / VFW Post] at [Cemetery].”
  • “The family thanks [hospice, VA staff or caregivers] for the dignity and care they gave him.”
  • “The next time you [see a well-kept lawn / hear a ballgame on the radio / shake a firm hand], think of [First Name].”
  • “He taught his children to [work hard / tell the truth / show up early], and they intend to keep doing it.”
  • “Rest easy, Dad. [The boat / The garage / The garden] is in good hands.”
  • “He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and friend.”
  • “May he rest in peace.”

Fill-in-the-blank template

Prefer to write it yourself? Copy this and replace everything in [brackets].

[DAD'S FULL NAME, WITH JR./SR.] "[NICKNAME]," [AGE], of [CITY, STATE], died on [DATE] at [PLACE].

He was born on [DATE] in [BIRTHPLACE] to [HIS PARENTS' NAMES] and grew up in [TOWN], where he [ONE DETAIL FROM HIS YOUTH, E.G. PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR CENTRAL HIGH / WORKED ON HIS UNCLE'S FARM]. He graduated from [SCHOOL] in [YEAR].

[OPTIONAL: He served in the [BRANCH] from [YEAR] to [YEAR], [WHERE HE SERVED], and was honorably discharged as a [RANK].] He worked [NUMBER] years as a [JOB OR TRADE] for [EMPLOYER], retiring in [YEAR]. He was a member of [UNION, LODGE, VFW, CHURCH OR CLUB]. In [YEAR] he married [WIFE OR PARTNER'S NAME], and they made their home in [TOWN].

[FIRST NAME] was the kind of man who [WHAT HE WAS KNOWN FOR]. He loved [HOBBY], [SECOND HOBBY] and [TEAM OR PLACE], and he never missed [EVENT OR TRADITION]. He liked to say, "[HIS SAYING]."

He is survived by [HIS WIFE OF NUMBER YEARS, NAME]; his children, [NAME (SPOUSE)] and [NAME (SPOUSE)]; [NUMBER] grandchildren; and his [BROTHERS/SISTERS], [NAMES]. He was preceded in death by his parents and [SIBLINGS OR OTHERS].

Visitation will be held on [DATE] from [TIME] to [TIME] at [FUNERAL HOME]. The funeral will be on [DATE] at [TIME] at [PLACE], with burial [WITH MILITARY HONORS] at [CEMETERY]. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to [ORGANIZATION]. [ONE SHORT CLOSING LINE ABOUT DAD.]

Tips and mistakes to avoid

Do

  • Pull his DD-214 or discharge papers before writing about military service, and copy branch, rank and dates exactly.
  • Ask his siblings or oldest friend about his early life: where he grew up, his first job, how he met your mom.
  • If he's a Jr. or Sr., say so, and make sure the funeral home's records use the same version of his name.
  • Ask the funeral director about military funeral honors and whether to mention them in the obituary.
  • Mention his union, lodge, VFW, Knights of Columbus or bowling league if he belonged for years; those friends will want to come.
  • Name his work by trade and employer, like "38 years as a lineman for Northern Power," rather than just "worked hard his whole life."
  • Include your mom's input even if you're writing it; it's her husband's obituary, too.

Avoid

  • Don't guess his rank, unit or medals; a mistake there can upset fellow veterans and the family.
  • Don't reduce him to 'hard-working and loyal' without one detail that shows it.
  • Don't leave out a stepchild, a late wife or a sibling he was close to without talking it through with the family.
  • Don't mention the illness or the circumstances of his death unless the family agrees.
  • Don't make every joke an inside joke; if you go lighthearted, choose humor the whole town would get.
  • Don't forget to say where and when friends can pay their respects.

Frequently asked questions

What should I include in an obituary for my father?

His full name with any Jr. or Sr. and his nickname; age, hometown and date of death; where he was born and grew up; his schooling, work and any military service; his marriage; two or three details that show who he was; his survivors and those who died before him; and service, honors and donation details. Leave out anything your family would rather keep private.

How long should an obituary for dad be?

On a funeral home website or online memorial, 250 to 400 words is typical, and those are usually free. In a newspaper, families often keep it to 120 to 200 words, because papers usually charge by the line or word and costs vary widely from paper to paper. A common approach is a short paid notice in print and the full obituary online.

How do I write about my father's military service in his obituary?

Give the branch, the years he served, where he served if you know, and his rank at discharge, such as "He served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1970 aboard the USS Ranger and was honorably discharged as a petty officer." Copy these from his DD-214 or discharge papers. Mention medals only if you can confirm them, and note military honors at the burial if planned.

Who should write my father's obituary?

Usually an adult son or daughter, often with his wife or partner helping decide what to include. If several siblings are involved, let one person draft and another check every name and date. His brothers, sisters and old friends are the best source for his early years. The funeral director can tell you the format, the deadline and whether the newspaper has a word limit.

Should I mention how my dad died?

It's your family's choice, and many obituaries say nothing about the cause of death. Some families mention an illness so friends understand or can give to a related charity, using a short phrase like "after a brief illness." If his death was sudden or difficult to talk about, it's completely fine to leave it out and keep the focus on how he lived.

Can a dad's obituary be funny?

Yes, if he was a funny man and the family is comfortable. A gently lighthearted obituary might include his favorite saying, his famous barbecue or the joke he told at every holiday. Keep the announcement, family list and service details clear and respectful, and never joke about his death. The short example above from a daughter shows how that balance can work.

How can Toastful help me write my father's obituary?

Choose son, daughter or another relationship, enter his name, age and hometown, and answer questions about his life, his work and service, his family and any service plans. Toastful writes a third-person obituary from only the facts you give, in about a minute, with a free preview. The full obituary is $9.95 with a PDF and e-mail copy, or $17.95 Complete with a newspaper death notice and social media announcement. 30-day money-back guarantee.

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