To many others, my dad was the first person who greeted them.

To many others, my dad was the person they went to for advice, both personal and professional.

To many others, my dad was the person they went to for a pleasant chat.

To many others, my dad was the person they went to for help.

To me, my dad was the person I went to when the world was too confusing, when I had a question about life, when I needed comfort, when I needed help with a project or when I simply wanted a hug.

To me, my dad was everything.

My family and I have always known that my dad was an incredible man who did extraordinary things. At work, at church, at home, he put 110% of himself into everything he did. He didn’t know how to do things halfway. If he cared about something, or someone, he gave them his whole heart.

Since my dad’s passing, so many people have come forward to share how he impacted their lives in extraordinary ways. Some stories we knew about. Many we didn’t.

We’ve heard stories of quiet acts of kindness, words of encouragement that changed someone’s path, help given without expecting anything in return and friendships that lasted decades. Time and time again, we’ve been reminded of something we already knew: my dad loved people, and people loved him right back.

What has been most humbling is realizing just how far that impact reached.

The support we’ve received from friends, neighbors, coworkers, churches, organizations and complete strangers has been overwhelming in the best possible way. The heartfelt messages, the cards in the mail, the meals, the hugs, the prayers, the stories, the donations and every act of kindness have carried us through some of the darkest days of our lives.

Grief has a way of making the world feel very small. But because of all of you, we have been reminded that we are not carrying this loss alone.

There is only one thing to say:

Thank you.

Thank you for loving my dad as much as he loved all of you.

Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

Thank you for reminding us that a life lived with kindness, generosity, faith and service truly matters.

There is so much that we now must learn to navigate without my dad. There are phone calls we can’t make, questions we can’t ask and moments we wish we could share with him. But just like he was always there for so many of you, all of you have been there for us.

One of the last things my dad taught me was something he had been teaching by example my entire life: when you put good into the world, good comes back in return.

The love that has surrounded our family these past weeks is proof of that.

My dad often reminded people to “Make it count. Do good. Be joyful.”

Looking at the outpouring of support from this community, I can confidently say that he did exactly that.

Again, thank you.

Thank you, friends.

Thank you, Clinton County.

Thank you, Tri County Church.

Thank you to every person who has prayed for us, reached out to us, shared a story, shed a tear or simply thought of our family.

Thank you for helping us carry this loss.

Most of all, thank you for making sure that my dad’s impact, and his legacy of love, will continue for generations to come.

With gratitude,

Sarah Budd, proud daughter of Pete Smeltz, on behalf of her mother, Deb; her brother, Robbie; their spouses; and the entire Smeltz family.

Sarah (Smeltz) Budd is a former design editor of The Express.