Love my Marlins, love my Winchester!! I have the Guide Gun, and I use (exclusively) the old school military leather slings on all but my AR platform and shotguns.
Great having memories of field time with dad. Odd thing, my dad grew up helping feed the family by hunting, but his few guns he had before he passed were what I'd bought for him. I did a lot of hunting with him after I was an adult, and it just didn't seem right that he'd guide and NOT shoot, simply because he didn't have anything TO shoot with. He did, however, enjoy borrowing some of my revolvers to have on him while riding snow mobile in the Arctic.
Glad your kids also have memories of hunting with him too.