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.
Tributes
Leave a tributeDennis 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.
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
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
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
Your Friends from the Sou"Wester Council
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
Everett and Virginia Lawrence
Swinging Squares
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
we are certainly very much aware of the agony, tension, and grief that besets a family and their loved ones..
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
Leave a Tribute
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.
my grandpa is reason why i love to dance
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
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
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