What a treat it was for me to attend the funeral of Gary Crippen yesterday. Of course, I am sad for his passing and the hole that his absence will create for his family. And the huge hole for the world. But going to the funeral brought back so many wonderful memories of going to the Crippen house while I was in High School.
In the 1980’s Worthington, Minnesota was a place where everyone knew everyone in high school. (And it probably is the same today.) We weren’t a small high school compared to the neighboring towns—approximately 160 in a graduating class. But we were small enough that we knew everyone’s names.
And everyone knew the Crippens. Or it seemed that way.
They lived in a fairly large house on Lake Avenue in Worthington. Just turn the corner and there was the house. Across the street from Lake Okabena. They moved to Mendota Heights in the mid-80’s, but even today when I’m in Worthington and drive around the lake, I look at the house and think, “Crippen house.”
One of my best friends dated Sarah in high school, and the three of us (and others) hung out—a lot. And often we would find ourselves at the kitchen table in the Crippen house talking to Nancy, Gary’s wife. We would talk about everything—politics, religion, relationships in school, what was happening on the School Board, and would the inevitable referendum for more funding for schools pass. I was quite devoted to playing the violin in that season in my life, so we would talk about the orchestra. And because I was passionate about football we would talk about football. No topic was off-limits at the Crippen table. It was like a symposium.
Those memories came streaming back yesterday at Gary’s funeral.
And to call the gathering a funeral does not do justice to the occasion. It truly was a celebration of life.
The Crippens were passionately devoted to education, particularly public education. This commitment has been lived out by their seven children. They have taken on the most honorable of professions—two are pastors, one a lawyer, one an administrator of a museum, and one the CEO of the children’s cancer research fund.
I hadn’t talked to Gary since attending the funeral of Nancy. But hearing the memories shared yesterday by his children and others brought back memories of conversations. And reminded me of the impact a kind and decent person can make. Gary was brilliant himself. A lawyer who became a judge who eventually served on the MN Court of Appeals.
His kindness was mentioned often yesterday—a part of the
Fruit of the Spirit. And this part of the Fruit was embodied in his life. He
was a curious person. I loved the story that was shared about Gary loving trees. His interest seemed a bit odd; however being reminded of his curiosity made his
interest make sense. He was interested in what made a tree grow, how it
weathered the Minnesota climate, what it would take for a tree to develop
fully.
The world needs curious people.
What was so touching at the funeral was the genuine smiles from his family. Sure they experienced sadness for Gary's passing, but more importantly they could smile about the beauty of a life very well lived.
The tributes that others have wrote are worth
reading.
One by his son, Stephen. https://www.stephencrippen.com/blog/2023/12/11/f7uedctbcq7mg2k5d56ho07thhjbu9?fbclid=IwAR0OfZNiBmN20qQfX0uMqAL-vvX6CogI2f514MdOUypC1TDKwt9Xkqyn2NM
One shared as a Facebook post by his daughter, Mary
I never got to meet his second wife, Sandy, but I’m sure I would have enjoyed sitting at their table talking about the events of the day.
The world needs more people and especially men who are good and kind and decent. Gary Crippen was our role model. His legacy will live on in the intelligent, compassionate, decent response to a world that is too often, too harsh.
Gary embodied, Philippians 2:1-5, a Scripture read at the service.
May the rest of us live by his example.
1 comment:
I sure remember Sarah’s family and how well respected they were in the community. Thanks for posting, Paul.
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