Craig Bryan Crippen

3-24-1968 to 6-29-2010

Craig Crippen, a devoted husband, father, son and man, passed away on June 29^th, 2010 surrounded with love by his wife, son, daughters and parents.  Craig lost his battle with NUT Midline Carcinoma; an extremely rare and aggressive form of lung cancer.

Craig was an incredibly special person who touched every person he met in a meaningful way.  He was highly energetic, not only in his career as a Partner of Mountaintop Drywall, but also in his extensive volunteer efforts with Grand Youth Adventures, Hospice Care, Habitat for Humanity, Grid Iron Club, Winter Park Ski & Ride School, Grand Huts Association, National Sports Center for the Disabled and recently running for the Granby Town Board of Trustees.

Craig is survived by his loving wife Joan, son Vinny, daughters Mary & Candace, parents Becky & George, brother Keith and grandchildren, Brooke and Greg.

A Celebration of Craig’s life will be held Sunday, July 4^th @ the Silver Creek Inn, in Granby, from 1 – 6 PM with a ceremony being held @ 2:30 PM.  In honor of Craig – casual dress, preferably tie-dyed, will be the dress ‘code’.  If you have pictures or story-boards to share please bring them.

We have secured the Ballroom at the Silver Creek Inn for Sunday’s Celebration.  The Celebration will run from 1 – 6 PM with a formal ceremony being held ar 2:30.

If you have digital pictures of Craig to share; please send them to MaryDressel@gmail.com.

Please also bring any storyboards or other items you’d like to share in the celebration.  We know many of you may want to speak during the ceremony; please email me if you’d like to be part of that @ Family@LeaveNoStone.com

For family & friends in the Toledo area; we are hoping you can join us on July 11 to help honor and remember his incredible life.  Joan and Vinny are now hoping to join us, so that they too can be with such good friends to pay respect to Craig.

If you intend to join us, PLEASE consider getting a ticket in advance so that we best prepare for the number of people.  Please see the blog @ http://crippenbenefit.wordpress.com/   for detailed information on how you can get a ticket, or reserve a seat in advance.

thank you all.

Candace

thank you for your love and support during this time; it means so much to all of us and we all read each and every comment with tears in our eyes.  we are working on a plan for a ceremony and, for now, our plan is to have a celebration on Sunday afternoon, July 4th.  we are securing the location now, hopefully the Inn @ Silver Creek @ 62927 US Highway 40
Granby, CO 80446 - 970·887·4080.

We will need folks to help bring food and drinks as we cannot handle that part but we do know in lieu of the usual suits we would like everyone to wear their favorite tye-dye; that’s what Craig would want.

We will Celebrate all the Craig is and was through photos and written story.

The plans will come together as the week progresses including the obituary, time and format for the Celebration.  We know everyone will have much to share – if you can do it through a written story, storyboard and photos – we welcome that.

Stay in touch – and i know you all will – with us as we continue.

our hopes are that folks can post what they plan to bring, as far as food goes, on the blog so everyone can see what will be there.

Much love to you and strength to us as we go through this part of the journey.

Candace

side note:  the benefit auction in Toledo will now also have an additional Ceremony with it so that folks in Toledo can share their stories and love as well.

Treasured husband, son, father, and friend.

Craig passed peacefully tonight at 8:00pm.  He was surrounded in love by his wife, son, daughters, and parents.

Craig has written his spiritual wishes down as well as how he wants to be cared for; those decisions were already made and we all support Craig and Mom’s wishes. 

His pain is under control, finally, and he is all in all – at peace.  we will all be here tonight with him – wondering if we can just line the floor with mattresses for us all?

Candace

Candace and I arrived here a few hours ago, and are with Craig, along with Mom, Vinny, Becky and George.  Craig has been very brave, and has fought an amazing battle.  Yet, as we knew from the beginning, this cancer is aggressive, and appears to be winning the battle.  Hospice has been called, and they are going to do the best they can to keep Craig comfortable without moving him from the hospital.  His breathing is very labored, and he is back on the full dilaudid drip.  He is no longer able to swallow or take oral meds, but they are continuing to give him some medication through IV, or liquid drops.

Candace here…our arrival here was a tough one; i was not prepared to find him in such a vulnerable state.  to be able to do nothing while he tries so hard to breathe under the oxygen mask, his eyes barely open except when waves of pain come over him and then his body writhing in pain…..it is more than i can handle.

i don’t want to cry and have that energy in the room but this is so unfair and heart-wrenching for me and the family.

mom has asked for this time to be with immediate family only.  the time for texting Craig, phoning, him, etc is past…i’m sorry.

there is no easy way to say this and no easy way to go through this; it’s all unfair and we are stuck with it.

please send your energy and prayers to the heavens and so on for Craig’s pain to be relieved enough for him to transition to the next phase.  i wish there was more we could do….

all our love to you all.

the Crippen family.

Candace here. It’s a tough, tough day.  Craig can’t breathe, he is in a lot of pain and the pneumonia is getting the best of him.  they can’t find a way to get the mucus/fluid out of his lungs and they are trying everything.

Today is a tough day; Mary and I are on stand-by – prepared to go out at a moment’s notice.

Please, say your prayers, send your energy – whatever it is you believe in and practice – for Craig to get rid of this pneumonia.

Love,

candace

Hope today was another good day for you Craig.  Love you!
~ Mary