How to Write an Obituary for Your Father

When you sit down to write an obituary for your father, you are usually operating on little sleep and a tight newspaper deadline. You might feel the pressure to summarize decades of a man's life onto a single page, capturing his work ethic, his sense of humor, and what he meant to his family.

Take a breath. An obituary is not a complete biography. It is a public notice of death, a record of family relationships, and a sketch of his character. Writing it becomes much easier once you break it down into standard sections.

What to include in an obituary for your father

A standard obituary follows a recognizable chronological order. Sticking to this structure ensures you do not accidentally leave out crucial dates, surviving relatives, or service times.

1. The announcement of death

Begin with your father's full legal name, common nickname (in quotation marks), age, city and state of residence, and the date of his death. You can include the location of death (such as at home, in hospice care, or at a local hospital). Listing the specific medical cause of death is completely optional.

2. Early life and background

State when and where he was born, followed by the names of his parents. Note where he grew up, schools or colleges he attended, degrees earned, and any military service. If he served in the armed forces, include his branch, rank, and any notable conflicts or assignments.

3. Career, interests, and community life

Summarize his working life, including his primary trade, company, or years of service. After his work history, highlight what he actually enjoyed doing: coaching Little League, restoring old trucks, gardening, volunteering at his church, or hosting backyard cookouts. Two or three vivid, specific details will make him sound like himself rather than a generic resume.

4. Family members and survivors

Listing survivors requires care and tact. Standard etiquette generally follows this order:

• Surviving spouse or long-term partner: Name his surviving wife or partner first, including their city of residence if helpful.
• Children and their partners: List children in birth order from oldest to youngest. Standard etiquette places the spouse or partner in parentheses directly after the child's name, for example: Mark Davis (Sarah) or Mark Davis and his partner, Sarah Lin.
• Grandchildren and great-grandchildren: You can list grandchildren by their first names or simply state the count (such as seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren), depending on available newspaper space.
• Siblings: List his surviving brothers and sisters in birth order.
• Preceded in death by: Use this phrase to acknowledge close relatives who died before him, usually his parents, deceased spouses, deceased children, and deceased siblings.

Handling step-family and blended families: Always aim for generosity. Stepchildren can be listed alongside biological children or introduced as his stepchildren, Lisa and Brian. If your father was divorced and remarried, you do not need to name his former spouse unless they remained close co-parents and your family agrees it is appropriate.

5. Service arrangements

Give clear, concrete details: the type of service (funeral, memorial, celebration of life, or private graveside), day of the week, calendar date, time, venue name, and street address. If services are private, state: Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

6. Memorial contributions

If your family prefers charitable donations instead of cut flowers, state this clearly at the very end. Provide the exact charity name and, if possible, a website address.

Obituary examples

Use these fictional examples as starting templates. Adjust the names, details, and length to fit your father's personality and your budget.

Traditional obituary example

This format runs roughly 300 words and suits a traditional funeral with formal newspaper publication.

Thomas Edward Gallagher, 78, of Peoria, Illinois, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Tom was born on June 4, 1947, in Springfield, Illinois, to Edward and Margaret (Callahan) Gallagher. After graduating from Oakridge High School in 1965, he served four years in the United States Navy as an aviation machinist mate. Following his honorable discharge, Tom joined Acme Manufacturing, where he worked as a dedicated machinist for 34 years until his retirement in 2004.

On October 10, 1971, Tom married the love of his life, Patricia Kelly. Together they built a home in Peoria and raised three children. Tom was an avid woodworker whose handmade cedar benches still sit on the porches of half his neighborhood. He coached youth baseball for over a decade and spent his autumn Saturdays following Notre Dame football.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia; his children, Brian Gallagher (Karen) of Normal, Illinois, Megan Scott (David) of St. Louis, Missouri, and Daniel Gallagher (Jessica) of Peoria; his sister, Kathleen Murphy of Chicago; and seven beloved grandchildren: Liam, Nora, Owen, Claire, Connor, Grace, and Henry. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, James Gallagher.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Oakridge Funeral Home, in Peoria. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, February 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Community Church. Burial with military honors will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois.

Short newspaper obituary example

At approximately 120 words, this concise notice keeps print advertising costs manageable while preserving all essential public records.

Robert "Bob" Alan Miller, 71, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died on January 18, 2026, at home. Bob was born on September 3, 1954, to Harold and Ruth Miller. He worked for 38 years as a route driver for Midwest Dairy Co., retiring in 2019.

Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Susan (Bowers) Miller; his children, Jason Miller (Amanda) and Christine Albright (Timothy); four grandchildren; and his brother, Gary Miller (Linda). He was preceded in death by his parents.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Oakridge Funeral Home, in Fort Wayne, with visitation one hour prior. Memorials to the Allen County SPCA.

Modern and personal obituary example

This format runs about 350 words, balancing official family records with personal storytelling and specific humor.

Marcus David Chen, 64, of Portland, Oregon, died on March 4, 2026, after a brief illness. He faced his final weeks with the same dry wit and calm pragmatism that defined his entire life.

Born in Seattle on August 12, 1961, Marcus was the son of Peter and Helen Chen. He graduated from the State University with a degree in civil engineering and spent 35 years managing public transit projects across the Pacific Northwest. He loved infrastructure, maps, and pointing out freshly poured municipal concrete to anyone trapped in a car with him.

Marcus was a father who showed up. He attended every rain-soaked track meet, taught his daughters how to change their own brake pads, and perfected a sourdough loaf that took four years of weekend trials to get right. He spent his retirement hiking the Columbia River Gorge, reading military history, and volunteering with the Multnomah County Library.

Marcus is survived by his wife, Carolyn; his daughters, Allison Chen (Kavita Patel) of Seattle and Stephanie Chen of Oakland, California; his stepson, Lucas Rivera of Portland; his mother, Helen Chen; and his sisters, Susan Chen and Linda Chen (Michael Ross). He was preceded in death by his father, Peter Chen.

A gathering of family and friends will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the World Forestry Center, in Portland. Guests are invited to bring their favorite stories and dress comfortably.

If you wish to make a gift in his memory, please consider a donation to the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

Faith-centered obituary example

This version focuses on his spiritual walk, church leadership, and scriptural hope, running around 280 words.

David Thomas Washington, 82, of Birmingham, Alabama, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 28, 2026.

David was born on January 15, 1944, in Selma, Alabama, to the late Reverend Samuel and Annie Washington. He accepted Christ at an early age and lived his life as a faithful servant. David served as a deacon and Sunday School superintendent at Faith Baptist Church for over four decades, mentoring generations of young men in his community.

He was employed as an educator and high school vice principal in the Metro School District system for 36 years, retiring in 2003. Beyond his work in education, David spent his retirement visiting sick and shut-in church members, tending his collard greens, and singing in the male chorus.

He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 58 years, Eleanor (Harris) Washington; his children, Marcus Washington (Tracey) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Dr. Angela Washington of Nashville, Tennessee; his grandchildren, Jordan, Christian, and Maya; his brother, Joseph Washington; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and church family. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Samuel Jr. and Paul Washington.

Homegoing services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Community Church, in Birmingham. Pastor James Carter will officiate. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Faith Baptist Church Youth Ministry Scholarship Fund.

Celebration of life obituary example

This tone works well for an informal, social father who requested good food and music over traditional solemnity.

Gregory Scott "Greg" Olsen, 67, of Austin, Texas, passed away on January 30, 2026, following a courageous year with cancer.

Greg was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on November 21, 1958, to Donald and Beverly Olsen. He moved to Texas in the late 1970s for warmer winters and better live music, and he never left. A self-taught sound technician and guitar repairman, Greg spent his life working around Austin music venues, making sure bands sounded their best and instruments stayed in tune.

Greg was known for his encyclopedic memory of 1970s rock, his legendary smoked brisket, and his refusal to wear formal footwear under any circumstances. If you needed help moving, a ride to the airport at dawn, or an honest opinion on a used amplifier, Greg was your first phone call.

He is survived by his long-term partner, Maria Santos; his children, Travis Olsen (Lauren) of San Antonio and Rachel Olsen of Austin; his stepdaughters, Sofia Santos and Elena Santos; his brother, Jeffrey Olsen (Barbara) of Minneapolis; and his beloved rescue hound, Waylon. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rather than a formal funeral service, Greg asked for a proper backyard party. Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Sunday, February 15, 2026, starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, in Austin. Please wear your favorite concert t-shirt.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Austin Music Foundation.

Writing tips

Writing when grief is raw can feel paralyzing. Keep these practical habits in mind while drafting your father's tribute.

• Confirm spellings with other family members. Grief causes brain fog. Double-check all maiden names, stepchildren's names, and in-laws' names with a sibling or relative before sending the text to the funeral home or newspaper.
• Pick three specific quirks or habits. Rather than writing that he was "a wonderful father who loved life," mention that he never threw away a rusted screw, taught everyone how to parallel park on a hill, or made blueberry pancakes on Sunday mornings. Specifics honor his true individuality.
• Prepare two versions. Create a short version (100 to 150 words) for print newspapers that charge per word or line, and a longer, richer version (300 to 500 words) for the funeral home website, online guestbooks, and printed funeral programs.
• Appoint one family editor. Let relatives share memories and facts, but designate one person to write and finalize the text. Writing by committee often leads to disjointed paragraphs and missed publication deadlines.
• Read the draft out loud. Reading aloud helps you catch repeated words, run-on sentences, and awkward transitions that your eyes glide over on a screen.

Common questions

How much does it cost to publish an obituary in a newspaper?

Newspaper obituary costs vary widely by city and circulation. A small local weekly paper may charge a modest flat fee, while major metropolitan dailies frequently charge significantly more depending on length and whether you include a photograph. Newspapers generally charge either by the line, by column inch, or by word count. Because rates vary so widely, ask your funeral director for current rate sheets or check directly with the paper's obituary desk.

Where should we publish our father's obituary?

Most families publish in the daily or weekly newspaper in their father's current city of residence. If he lived in another town for decades or grew up in a different state, you may also want to place a shortened notice in his hometown paper so old friends, classmates, and former coworkers are informed. You should also ensure the full obituary is hosted on the funeral home's website, where there is typically no word limit.

How long should a father's obituary be?

For a printed newspaper, 100 to 200 words is standard and budget-friendly. For an online obituary, funeral program, or digital memorial page, 300 to 500 words is typical. Anything over 600 words begins to read like a eulogy or full biography, which can be difficult for casual readers to digest.

Do we have to list the cause of death?

No. You are never obligated to disclose how your father died. Phrases like passed away peacefully, died unexpectedly, or simply passed away on [date] are standard and accepted. If your father died from a specific illness or condition and your family wishes to raise awareness or direct memorial gifts toward research for that disease, you may choose to include it, but the decision is entirely yours.