ForeverMissed
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Denis had a vibrant and dynamic life for over 71 years when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in December, 2010. Further tests revealed pancreatic cancer as well. He stayed strong and fought the cancer for six months with little complaint. On Saturday, May 21, he was having difficulty walking and was brought to the hospital.  He was visited by friends and family on Sunday, and received the Holy Sacrament from church bretheren. His health declined rapidly over the following two days. On May 24, 2011, his doctors made him as comfortable as possible, and at 4:40 p.m., in the company of his beloved wife, his labored breathing stopped and he went home to be with his Lord.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Virginia; eight children, Charles, Julia, Martin, Michelle, James, Matthew, Julia Rose, and Zachariah; two brothers, Gordon and Monte; a sister, Bonnie; 23 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren. He will also be deeply missed by the countless members of his church family and his dance family.  He is preceeded in death by his brother Frederick and his son Robert.

Viewing will be in Lacey, Washington, on Friday, June 3 2011, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Funeral Alternatives, 2830 Willamette Drive NE Suite G.

The funeral will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 4 2011, at the LDS Stake Center in Lacey, Washington, 1602 Ruddell Road SE. All are invited - there's plenty of room.

Following the service, the family and close friends will attend the burial in Tumwater, and a reception will follow at the Stake Center in Lacey.

August 12, 2021
August 12, 2021
Dennis is really missed.
Dennis was the one who helped RoundaLab members write dances that people actually loved to dance to.
I worked with Dennis on writing dances, I wish that I had kept an excellent record of his teachings.
The first round dance that I wrote to using Dennis's guidelines was the first dance I wrote that dancers loved. I heard great reports, their dances loved it.
His help and guidance is really missed.
May 24, 2021
May 24, 2021
I met Dennis at a RoundaLab convention. He mentored me, teaching me how to write round dances that flowed, dances that people loved to dance to. I can never thank him enough. He will always be remembered as a true friend and great teacher, a wonderful mentor.
May 29, 2014
May 29, 2014
Dear Ginny and family, Never was, or has anyone ever been, as accompllshed a cuer as was Dennis. His musical ability will always be cherished by both Don and I. We miss him too! Love and Hugs,Don and Merlene Miller
August 12, 2013
August 12, 2013
I have always been grateful for Denis. I met Denis at a Roundalab convention. Denis taught me how to write dances. Denis mentored me for a number of years. One of the last dances I wrote is being preformed all the time. I keep getting great feedback about how their dancers love it. I can not thank Denis enough. A truly knowledgeable person.
May 24, 2013
May 24, 2013
Dear cousin Ginny and Family--Always remembering, praying and thinking often of you, your (and our) family and Stuart Denis.....In HIS LOVE---John and Joan
June 21, 2012
June 21, 2012
Dear, Grandma, and the rest of the family
grandpa, Denis was alway such good man to have around i miss him dearly even though i know i will see him again but till then i will have a hard time growing up with out him here to help me, i loved him so dearly when died it was like my heart shatterd and grew back curred i thank the countless friends for all the suport thankyou
December 28, 2011
December 28, 2011
Dear Aunt Ginny, I never had the pleasure of getting to know uncle Dennis really well, but of the little I did know he was a great man. I can see how great he was, and how great you are through Julia and Zach. You are in my prayers.
August 22, 2011
August 22, 2011
I just recently found out about the passing of Denis, my heartfelt condolences to all of you. I have great memories of all of you, especially Denis & Ginny. I will always feel blessed for having known all of you. You opened the world of dance...bless you all. Prayers to all.
June 12, 2011
June 12, 2011
Dear Ginny & family,
My deep and sincere condolences to you all. May the love of Christ comfort you through the heartache. I will greatly miss his precision cuing and love of dancing and of course his wonderful swivel when he danced. ~Darrel
June 6, 2011
Dear Ginny and family:
Denis was my biggest cheerleader to continue to do cultural events on a church and community level. He was my inspiration and mentor. I am so grateful he gave of his time and talents to help me and so many others. Thank you
June 4, 2011
June 4, 2011
Our love is sent to the whole Denis Crapo Family and all his dance family he so warmly embraced. After our 21 years in the Air Force, Denis introduced us to dancing and a whole NEW family. He and dear Ginny always amazed us with their dancing talen
June 4, 2011
June 4, 2011
Dear Ginny & Crapos, Nelda & I will miss having Denis near. Your family was one of the first we met when we moved here in 1979. You were so connected, as a couple, to so many I am sure the funeral will be big. See you there. Our Love/Prayers to al
June 3, 2011
June 3, 2011
Dear Ginny & Family. We were so sorry to hear about Denis. Our hearts and prayers go to you and your family. Denis was a wonderful dancer and cuer and will be missed by all his friends. With all our Love,
Your Friends from the Sou"Wester Council
June 2, 2011
June 2, 2011
Dearest friend,brother-in-law.I have always had the deepest admiration & respect for Denis-his exceptionally high standard,compassion,devotion to friends & family.The pictures move me to tears.I can't believe this life has passed on.
June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011
Ginny & Family, You both helped Patricia in many, many ways. We will miss him and the activity has lost a great man. We will be there right after Harold Seeley's Memorial.Our prayers are with you. Don & Pat Wiggins
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Dear Ginny & family; I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Denis. I remember Denis as a fun loving young man who really enjoyed life. Denis and myself were stationed in Germany together in the 60s. Again let me express my deepest sympathy.
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Ginny,Matt & family,
I was so saddened to hear about Denis's passing. I was unaware that he was so sick. I have numerous and wonderful memories of our great times together, especially in Hoquiam. He will be greatly missed. Ginnie Nichols
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Wishing the family well. Everett and I have known Dennis and Ginny for a long time and will miss Dennis' voice while we are round dancing.
        Everett and Virginia Lawrence
         Swinging Squares
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Dear Ginny and family,
Don and I have fond memories of dancing with Dennis every weekend while we lived in Ryderwood He had an ear for music like no one we have ever known. Our condolences to you. We will miss him too. Hugs,Don and Merlene Miller
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Dear Ginny and family,
  Long ago Denis taught us with patience, much encouragement, and obvious love for dance. What a gift to so many people. Thank you and God Bless you all. Marythea Grebner and Edward C. Ford
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Dear Ginny and family,
I so looked forward to cueing with Denis this past weekend. He had always been so supportive of me over the years. I admired him. May God bless you and your family especially at this time. 
May 31, 2011
May 31, 2011
Dear cousin Ginny & Family---We share the sadness of the passing & family loss of our beloved Denis...You all have our LOVE and PRAYERS...John & Joan
May 30, 2011
May 30, 2011
Dear Ginny & Family
My heart is heavy with the news of Denis' passing. He will surely be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time of loss. God bless you and give you peace. Love, Sandy Dunkel
May 30, 2011
May 30, 2011
Dear Ginny and Family:
Our prayers are with you during these trying times. Remembering well all that Denis and you taught us and the gift of dance you gave us. RIP my friend ~ we will dance again in heaven! ~ Kevin & Vicki Klein
May 30, 2011
May 30, 2011
Ginny, my life has been forever changed by the joy and elegance dancing has brought to my life. Denis never wavered in giving his all to the beauty, grace and charm of dance. I will always hold him in my memory as the elegant dancer, husband, grandf
May 30, 2011
May 30, 2011
Dear Ginny & Family,
I will always be Thankful for all the hours I spend at your house, while Denis helped me work on cueing. What a Mentor he was. He will be missed, it will be hard to come back to WA and not see him cueing a dance. God Bless
May 30, 2011
May 30, 2011
Dear Ginny & family,
We will always remember the lessons learned from Denis and his friendship and guidence in our to struggle to learn to dance. As a cuer I am thankful for his help and will miss him. Mary & Scott Parsons
May 29, 2011
We met Denis in Portland, OR in 1992 at Nationals. WE watched you and Denis dancing that evening and vowed we would dance like that, too. For the next eight years, Denis took us from Phase 3 through Phase 5 round dancing. Until we meet again, Deni
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
Dear Ginny & family,
We wish you strength during this time - we will all miss Dennis. We remember his visit to Holland with Matt. - Fondly, Susie & Gert-Jan Rotscheid
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
I met Denis at the national here in Wichita Kansas. I learn how to write dances from Denis that people actually liked dancing to. I always checked his web site for new dances on a regular basis. Both me and my dancers loved his dances. I will miss hi
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
Dear Ginny,
It was a joy to get acquainted with you & Denis at the Diamond Lake Festival a few years ago. We have enjoyed dancing and teaching so many of your dances. Our hearts go out to you. Bob & Dorees Dingman
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
Dear Ginny & Family, Sorry for your loss. I have good memories of Denis cueing weekends at Hoquiam, dances at Lac-A-Do and Seattle Square Dance center with a lady you and he found for me. He lives on in his choreography. Love, Leonard Turner
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
Dear Ginny and Family; Our Condolences go out to you! Please know that your Square & Round Dance extended Families will be Thinking of you and Praying for his strength to see you this time of loss. We always enjoyed dancing with Denis and You and Ma
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
You and Denis left a legacy of dance with the youth of the church. There were huge dance festivals with so many kids, dances, and costumes! They were taught how to dance with class. You will never know how many lives were touched because of you. 
May 29, 2011
May 29, 2011
Hi Virginia and family,
Joyce and I were sad to hear of Denis's passing. What fond memories we have of your family as our kids were raised together. Vicki and her family are in Mattawa with four of her six married. John Tom and Jim are all in Ut.
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
My wife Donna and I wish our sincerest sympathy to the Crapo family. With Donna having experienced lung cancer
we are certainly very much aware of the agony, tension, and grief that besets a family and their loved ones..
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
Dear Ginny and family,
Our deepest sympathy in your loss of Denis. We shall always remember the great times we had with you at the different venues we attended. Our love, Jerry and Val
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
Ginny & family,
Denis will be remembered through his dances. He left a legacy to the round dance movement. He will be missed. We're sure he is dancing his way through heaven visiting our dancing family. Love and prayers, John & Karen
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
Dear Ginny & Family.
We have danced several times with Denis at Hoaquim. He has written so many round dances, many of which have become our favorites and many more that are above our level of experience. May God be with you.
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
Dear Ginny and Family,
Your tremendous loss is shared by so many. Just imagine the lives touched by Denis as he danced, prayed and loved his way through life! Flawless cueing, elegance, and loyal friendship-and those swivel hips! Kathy Rooney
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
Dear Ginny,
We met Denis at Roundalab. You were unable to be with him that year. He was such a nice man and we enjoyed talking to him. Our dancers really enjoy his coreography. Anne & Gup Gupton
May 28, 2011
May 28, 2011
I didn't know Denis but we "talked" electronically many times. We enjoy your choreography. May God Give you Peace and Comfort at this time of sorrow- Marilyn Waguespack
May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011
dear Ginny & family,
We shall always remember how warm and kind you were to us when we came to Washington to do festivals. We have used many of your dances and still do. May the Lord give you peace at this time. Love, Bill & Martha Buck
May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011
Dear Ginny & Family, What a surprise!!! Cliff sent me this notice - he didn't tell me who was for though, and I saw Denis's picture - my mouth flew open and tears sprung to my heart & eyes. You had a lot of good years dancing through life. I have al
May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011
Ginny and Family,
Tom and I send our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. We have special memories of learning Phase 3 and 4 Round Dancing with you and Denis in Tacoma about 20 years ago. Our love, Tom and Donna Rohde - Auburn, WA
May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011
Dear Ginny and family,
We have always been gratefull ot count you and Denis among our closest friends. We are thankfull that we were able to see him at the hospital before he went to be with the lord. You your family are in our prayers.
May 27, 2011
May 27, 2011
Dear Ginny & family; Our hearts are heavy w/ the news. Please know that all your square & round dance family will be thinking of you this weekend. Our main connection with your family was annually at the campout where we enjoyed our visits. Take care

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Recent Tributes
August 12, 2021
August 12, 2021
Dennis is really missed.
Dennis was the one who helped RoundaLab members write dances that people actually loved to dance to.
I worked with Dennis on writing dances, I wish that I had kept an excellent record of his teachings.
The first round dance that I wrote to using Dennis's guidelines was the first dance I wrote that dancers loved. I heard great reports, their dances loved it.
His help and guidance is really missed.
Recent stories

my grandpa is reason why i love to dance

January 29, 2013

What some dont know about my grandpa's and mine relationship with him. He and i has alway had a love for dancing, he was the one who brought me into dancing, why? Simply this, when i was very little, My grandma and grandpa would take me out the dances when they could find a baby sitter, and they would always put me in a jolly jump up, to some who know me well enough know the story of this jolly jump, and me, when my grandpa would cue, a slow song, like a waltz, i would rock back and forth, and then when he played a fast song like a cha cha, or jive i would bounce around and thats when very body said that my grandma and grandpa had a dancer, and they were right they did, when i got a little bit older i wanted to take lessons i would beg him and beg him to let me, then finally when i turned 8, he let me take the square dance lessons, then when i got the first level masterd that he brought me into plus, which is the next level, then when i got that, i wanted to take round dance lessons, but when i took the lessons i did't really like it, at first and i really was't ready,so i waited a couple years when i was ready to try again my grandpa was disnosed with lung cancer, he did the best he could for 6 mounths and he could not fight it anymore and he left us, we all miss him and love him very much, he might of been a grouch, but really he was kindest man in the world, but because of him im a dancer and i cant help but thank him for that he took me to the dances he brought me into the lessons, and he made me dnacer and now im carring on his for him i took up the cueing and learning from his best students randy and rose, they are the ones who taught me but if it was not for my grandpa, i would have never would have been brought into square and round dancing,

miss me~ but let me go

June 21, 2012

this is a poem read at the funeral 
 
When ive come to the end of the road
and the sun has set for me
i want no rites in a gloom- filled room.
   why cry a soul set free
miss me - but not for long ,
and not with your heads bowed low
rember the love we once shared
miss me but let me go
for this a journey that we all must take
and each alone its all a part of the masters plan
a step on the road back home
when your loney and sick of heart
go to friends we all know
and burry your sorrow in doing good deeds
miss me~ but let me go

my grandpa my hero

June 12, 2011

Denis  Crapo was  like    a   hero  to  all. He was     close   to    his    Family    and a   Beautiful   dancer   and   very    close    to    the     lord .   we    miss   him   very   much but we   know   that he is dancing    with   the    dancer s   that   have   gone   before   us .   he   will    be dearly   missed . me   and   my   grandpa had  a   special   bond    from   the    first   day   we   met   eyes    he    did  what   no other   grandpa    would   do - he   adopted    me  when I  was  6 weeks  old  and   then    a   year    later   he   adopted my   brother   my   grandpa   was   like   a   dad    to    us     he     took    us   in and put   a   roof   over  our  heads     we    thank   him   for     that    .    Dennis     lives   on   through    his    music.   Thank   you   for everything  I  love  you  and  will always  remember  you.    Your  daughter   –   Julia Rose Crapo

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