I first met Uncle Don when I was 6 years old. Auntie Rene would often come to visit us and I remember fun times with her and her "fold-up" Bike! So when she was getting married I was very excited! I got to be the flower girl at Uncle Don and Auntie Rene's wedding. My Mom was very upset with me for taking the curlers out of my hair in the morning when Robbie the ring bearer was coming over with his Mom. I didn't want to be seen by a boy with curlers in my hair!! It was a very fun wedding and reception with Uncle Don being a bit upset with my bother David for tying cans underneath the car!!
The next significant remembrance was about 10 years later when we went to visit for Christmas. Uncle Don introduced me to John Fischer's music and gave me the album "Still Life". Uncle Don had an amazing gift for music and loved music of many kinds but especially Classical and gospel music. He was an accomplished conductor and musician and served the Lord in many capacities with his music. 
Many hikes were taken from Grandma's cabin to the "tree" at the Princeton ranch with Uncle Don and he was always ready for a good dose of physical activity!
When I finished my Clinical Laboratory training Auntie Rene invited me to come and visit and wanted to introduce me to their friend Doug. On previous trips my dear Auntie had invited many young men over in the hopes I would "fall" for one of them!! Doug was interesting and seemed very sincere. Uncle Don and Auntie Rene arranged my week and included Doug in everything we did! (Who needs computer dating when you have Auntie Rene and Uncle Don!). I know Doug has already written about this so I will not repeat but I am very thankful to my match making Aunt and Uncle!
After Auntie Rene passed away I got to know Uncle Don in a much deeper way. He would come over and we would sit for hours taking about memories with Auntie Rene, about his past and childhood and growing up in Pennsylvania. 
Then after Uncle Don and Suzanna married and Suzanna was traveling, Uncle Don would come over for dinner every Friday night and we would have great conversations around the dinner table. We even started a Bible Study with him and he was a keen student of the Bible.
I have so many fond memories of times spent with Uncle Don and some rather hair raising experiences traveling with the family down to Arizona in the Vanagon and my first experience at Disneyland!
I cherish the memories made with Uncle Don and look forward to seeing him again in the golden city. 

I met Don through his volunteer work at Santa Clara University to help international students learning American culture. We talked about news of the week, his work, union strike when he was in the middle of, and American history and traditions. Students came and went, but Don always showed up with his upbeat spirit in his old VW van. Later he introduced us to other people from his church. Through them, we got a glimpse of lives of various perfections. The gathering at his home on Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with Lurene and Lori were moments forever in my memory. Seeing Don taking care of Lurene’s mom, and their interaction with Lori expanded my view of traditional American family life.  

Pallas and I kept in touch with Don through occasional visits, phone calls and emails after my graduation. I admired Don’s dedication in helping others throughout his life. Don was my first mentor and friend in US. I am grateful to meet Don and his family. Driving by their home in San Jose always brings back the warm and kind memory of Don and his family. He will be forever missed. Sincere condolences and blessings to Lori and family.

Don had a pure and sincere heart for God. His constancy and dedication to serving the Lord was an inspiring example to me and I'm sure many others throughout the years I was privileged to know him. It's a joy to know he is now enjoying the eternal rewards of his faithful service. 

Don was a humble servant of the Lord.
He loved people and we knew him best when he was reaching out to the newly arrived South East Asian refugees in San Jose.
He made sure there were rides to bring them to Valley Church for worship, ESL training, and friendship.
We remember Don's enthusiasm as he would lead us in singing together. One of the favorites was "Beloved, let us love one another.......ending with I John 4:7 & 8."  Don was a lighthouse of encouragement and blessing to us and to many others.

Don had a big heart to serve the refugees coming from Southeast Asia starting in the early 1980's. His VW van was packed as he drove them to english and Bible classes. He did it with great joy and love. I also remember when he taught Chinese students from the Santa Clara University. He taught with great passion, interest, and concern for each of them. Don inspired and was a great example to me in my pursuit for cross cultural ministry. Thank you Don for all the many people you have blessed.

I first met Pop when I picked up Lori the day after Christmas in our last year of college. We planned to go to Monterey with my friend and roommate. I asked him what he did for a living and he replied, “I’m a printer by trade.” He smiled warmly and we were soon off.

I didn’t exactly understand his work but soon learned he did much more than his job at the newspaper. He had students he tutored in English and hosted Thanksgiving each year for them. He managed properties which took up a good amount of his energy and time. I wondered how he could work day and night.

His love for family and dedication to the Lord truly motivated him. The week of our wedding he pulled me aside to let me know that I would now care for Lori as her husband. That encouragement and charge is something I never forgot.

Of course, Don and Lurene supported us through those early years of marriage and raising children. Their unwavering belief in us helped me through seminary and those first years of pastoring.

In his last days I bantered with Pop when he had a surge of energy. He wryly smiled just as he did when I first met him over 30 years ago. That’s what will stay with me—his sense of humor and knowing smile that welcomed me as his son-in-law.

I have fond memories of growing up in San Jose and spending time with Poppa over at his house. It was so much playing in backyard, in the play structure they built just for us grandkids, and then coming inside for a snack and a refreshing glass of soy milk. I loved watching TV with Poppa and hearing stories about his life, stories from growing up and from various experiences. Throughout my life I always knew that Poppa was there for me. He showed his love through birthday and Christmas cards and phone calls, and even if we didn’t see each other frequently it was always a joy when we did. You will be forever cherished and missed, Poppa. May your suffering be over and may you be at peace now.

Hi Poppa,

I will forever cherish those years I grew up in San Jose living a few blocks from you and spending the night at your house; I always looked forward to sleepovers at Poppa and Nana's. I have fond memories of you splitting grapefruits with me with your special grapefruit spoon—one for me and one for you as we alternated until we finished. I remember how you picked me up and told me stories about the gold, frankincense, and myrrh in the little chest on the mantle. Your rock collection inspired me to start collecting my own. As I got older and the years went by, I knew you were always thinking of me. I still have every one of the cards you sent me for birthdays and graduations and holidays. I will miss that. We love and miss you, thank you for sharing your life with us.

For many years on Friday afternoons, Don led an English discussion group for International Students in my living room. I have very good memories of those times as well as trips we would take and a house full of International students each Thanksgiving at the Croups.

Lurene worked with World Relief in a program to help integrate Amerasians from Vietnam into U.S. society. During one of the meetings for this at the Croups, I met Lurene’s niece Frances who was visiting from Canada.

The Friday afternoon after Frances returned home, after the students had left, Don mentioned that Frances had a birthday coming up and I should send her a birthday card. He just happened to have one with him, along with an addressed envelope (in Lurene’s handwriting). The card was old and yellowed, and looked like something bought in a bargain bin about 30 years prior. I still remembered the greeting “Oceans of Blessings on your Birthday”.

I mentioned to Don that I hardly knew the girl. Although she seemed nice, I was pretty shy and starting a long distance relationship (internationally) was outside my comfort zone. Also, while I was praying for a wife, I really wanted someone who had a deep commitment for the Lord and was compatible with my ministry mindset. Don assured me that Frances was all of these and she would be a perfect fit for me. He gave me the card and encouraged me to pray about sending it.

I did pray about it, and based on Don’s recommendation and the high value I placed on his advice, I signed and sent the card. Then a day later, I sent a separate letter to Frances explaining where the Birthday card came from (since I didn’t want credit for picking out a yellowed card—and of course it was obvious from handwriting on the envelope I would have had encouragement from the Croups) and expressing the pleasure I had meeting her and spending some time with her while she was down visiting the Croups.

Frances and I have been happily married for over 31 years and I am very grateful to Don and Lurene for their part in bringing us together.

My dad and your dad were partners in amazing church youth musicals, as you remember.  I remember pal-ling around as a small fry with Lori while they worked their magic practicing at church. Your dad with music and my dad with drama: they must have been quite a team! I was a little young to have many specific memories of time with your dad, but I know since he produced such a kind saintly daughter as yourself, he was a solid, well-rounded loving man. May his light continue to shine brightly down on you throughout your life! And may you feel his presence, being so proud of who you've become.