Chuck Norris‘ kids have shared an emotional tribute to their father.
The famous action star died on Thursday (March 19) at 86 after he was hospitalized for a medical emergency.
His daughter Danilee and son Dakota shared a sweet post dedicated to him on Instagram on Friday.
“You’ve been the man I looked up to my whole life. Your generosity, your kindness, your courage, your integrity, your strength, your discipline, and your faith in the Lord were just a handful of things I always admired about you,” Dakota wrote. “You lived your life with purpose and with love for all people.”
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Dakota also shared several photos of himself and his father and called him “the greatest father God could have ever given me and the finest man I’ve ever known. No matter what I was going through, you were always there. You made sure I knew how much you loved me. Honest to God, I don’t think there was a single day that went by where you didn’t say it. I’m so proud to be your son.”
Dakota continued, “The memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the constant laughs we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything you gave to our family and for the example you set every day. I hope I can live a life that honors you and makes you proud. I love you, Dad. I’ll miss you forever.”
Danilee also shared several photographs of her and her dad.
Her caption started, “I don’t think grief is a good enough word to describe the emotions my family and I are going through right now.. losing a parent is something that you are never prepared for.”
She went on to say that before she takes time for herself and family, she wanted to dedicate a post to her “sweet father.”
“My dad was my protector. The moment I was born and as soon as he took me in his arms, I’ve been his little girl. That was something I would always acknowledge even when I was too big to be cradled properly. We made it work though just like one of the pictures above. My dad loved so deeply and cared for every single person in his life with so much tenderness,” Danilee wrote.
She continued, “He may have a warrior exterior, but his heart was so full of love and I’m so grateful that is something he and my mom passed down to me. To say how thankful I am for him being my dad is an understatement. He has been my safe person these past 24 years and I am constantly filled with gratitude for how much wisdom and love he has bestowed me and my brother.”
Danilee said she will “forever carry on his legacy and shower others in that compassion that he so frequently showed.”
“There is so much I want to say with 24 years worth of memories I could write about, but I will go ahead and at least say this – I could not have asked the Lord for a more amazing father,” she wrote. “I thank You, Lord, for blessing me with a father who took every opportunity to show me that he wanted to give us a good life.”
“And thank you, Dad, for supporting me in all my passions and for pushing me to not shy away from the impossible. Thank you for your constant compassion and for loving me so much that it’s made me learn to love myself. I promise I will always and forever try to make you proud even if you already reminded me every day that it was impossible not to. I love you forever,” Danilee concluded.
He is also survived by his wife Gena O’Kelley, his children Dina, Mike, and Eric, and 13 grandkids.
