Rest in peace Grandpa. You will be missed dearly but left quite a legacy for us all to remember.
You spent countless hours and miles running grandkids around town to hit up every park - yep EVERY single park in town. We spent many Friday and Saturday nights at the rollerskating rink, where you were on skates just as much – if not more – than we were. The employees at McDonald’s knew your name and knew that we were getting Happy Meals or maybe just ice cream, but definitely the Happy Meal toy. This Grandpa and his grandkids all had a full set of every Happy Meal toy set.
If there was a train coming through town, you were within sight of the tracks. You had the grandsons hooked on Thomas the Train, because you had all the Thomas movies! There are bookshelves at the house containing every Disney movie and Kid Songs sing-a-long video ever made. And let’s not forget those home videos – that camcorder was with you for every school concert and family gathering. When you didn't have the camcorder, the the Polaroid camera was there.
When you weren’t driving us all over the place or recording our every move, you could be found relaxing with a book or newspaper. You loved chatting with family and friends, which sometimes meant that excursions with you lasted a little longer. If we needed you, we could always call. And call, we did! How many times did you hear “Grandpa, can you come pick us up?”
Thank you for the good times, Grandpa! You will forever be in our hearts.
Grandpa Don's obituary:
Donald F. Crapser, 87, of Brookings, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the Brookings Hospital. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at Rude’s Funeral Home, in Brookings. Memorial visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, at Rude’s Funeral Home.
Donald F. Crapser was born on January 28, 1929 in Brookings, SD, the son of Oral and Leola (Workman) Crapser. Donald received his education in the Brookings schools and in 1942 moved to Bell Gardens, CA and graduated in 1948. In 1948, he moved back to Brookings, SD. He served in the United States Army from 1951 until 1953. He was united in marriage to Jeannette Carter on January 18, 1951 in Ivanhoe, MN. In 1953, they moved to Hamilton, OH where he was employed at the ArmCo Steel Co. After returning to Brookings, he was employed at Meester Auto, Jackrabbit Oil Co. for 24 years and the Martin Oil Co. until his retirement in 1994.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brookings and the American Legion. He was a leader and a scout master in the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed rendezvousing, hunting and trap shooting with his sons, his brother, Fay and his Workman cousins. He also liked fishing with his grandkids and many friends. He would take his grandchildren to the roller skating rink every Friday and Saturday night, and he would out-skate the kids every night.
Donald is survived by his wife Jeannette of Brookings; two sons, Eldon Crapser (Loretta), of Brookings, SD, William Crapser (Nancy), of Sioux Falls, SD; one daughter Donita Fleming, of Brookings; ten grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; one brother Maynard Crapser, of Long Beach, MS; one sister-in-law Bernita Crapser, of Sioux Falls, SD and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Fay and Larry, one sister Betty DeBord, and one granddaughter, Shannon Christopherson.
If there was a train coming through town, you were within sight of the tracks. You had the grandsons hooked on Thomas the Train, because you had all the Thomas movies! There are bookshelves at the house containing every Disney movie and Kid Songs sing-a-long video ever made. And let’s not forget those home videos – that camcorder was with you for every school concert and family gathering. When you didn't have the camcorder, the the Polaroid camera was there.
