Funny....Men from that generation (your dad and mine) are tough as nails. I remember years ago when my Dad found out he had diabetes, he ended in the hospital with a foot infection.
I went to see him, and, upon seeing him in that hospital bed, I just broke down. He was like "John, I am OK, I aint DYING, get a grip."
What got to me was this man, to me, was Superman. Nothing could touch him and he was bulletproof. So, to see him like that,man....it just got me.
Dunno why I shared that, just thought you could maybe relate.