My dad was an abusive alcoholic from what my mother told me but the few memories I have of him he seemed more like a guardian of the family.
I recently discovered that his parents died within a few years of eachother leaving him an orphan. He was raised by one of his brothers according to census records. I wish I knew more about this brother but I think he has passed away. I think if I knew more about my dad's older brother it might explain even more why my father was the way my mother said he was.