Reprinted with permission from the February 5, 2009, Valley Falls Vindicator:
Dear Friends of Arthur Strawn:
Our family would like to express gratitude to the friends and family who came to the memorial service at the Mercer Funeral Home Saturday, Jan. 31. It was a peaceful, orderly service orchestrated by Jim Braum who walked us through the service that were not yet preplanned, and those final decisions so unfamiliar to us.
The close-knit, personalized memorial was very comforting to all of us. It was grand to hear others rejoicing in Art’s life by sharing fond memories with us.
Pastor Mike Kirby set the opening tone with these words: “God gave us the gift of memory…to comfort one another” and reminded us we were gathered to celebrate Art’s life and how his life touched so many others.
Rick Johnson, friend, adviser, and attorney for Art, defined Art’s life for us by using two words: Care Giver. The words together and separately are apt descriptions of the Uncle Art I have always known. Rick’s words helped us to honor Art from the heart.
Art cared for others and gave to others. He took responsibility for others and then acted on it. He was a proud veteran of World War II, having served in the South Pacific. He was proud of the USA, Kansas, Jefferson County and of course, Valley Falls. He was a student all his life with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
Uncle Art shared his passion for learning with my sisters and me, always challenging us to learn more than was required in school. He often spoke words of great wisdom, on many topics, and it was from him I learned to appreciate the value of history and the virtue of being accurate.
Betty Jane Wilson quoted Art Strawn from the Valley Falls Historical Society Newsletter, giving everyone an insight into his depth of thought. “We must preserve the facts of the present and set straight the records of the past…(the purpose of a historical society) is not just one more social group. It carries the burden of collecting and processing material but its service must be to the whole community. No finer way exists to promote interest and pride than a local historical society.”
What a legacy! But this quote is also how a family should be viewed: Honor, personal responsibility, truth, then ‘being and becoming’ the best we can be for one another. These values were Uncle Art’s values, and they are also eternal values.
Longtime neighbors and friends Linda and Frank Stansell spoke of their friendship with Uncle Art. Linda said “I know Art is in a better place. I bet Art is there telling the good Lord that he will get a file cabinet and get the Lord’s history all straightened out for Him.”
Those who knew Uncle Art’s passion for accuracy and orderliness rejoiced together with a good laugh—one my Uncle Art would have shared. Yet how typical of Art’s honesty and how timely in today’s world when truth and accuracy are so often set aside for something expedient.
There were two young women and their now grown children who stopped to share a moment with my sisters and me. They had lived nearby and told us how Art had been helpful for their children. I wonder if they are the “young friends” Uncle Art mentioned with such fondness, who owned a black dog named “Lady” who had adopted Art.
Then, Mary Jane Burns, a school teacher, shared her stories of sending students to “Ask Art.” She went on to explain how Art helped her further her college education by being a source for information on her thesis. Thanks, Mary Jane, for understanding how valuable Uncle Art was. He was always a resource for us.
Frank Shrimplin described the Uncle Art I knew as humble and never bragging even with his many talents. Mr. Shrimplin shared his personal thoughts with us and then presented us with a beautiful poem of friendship, written by another long time friend, Mary Powell of Topeka.
The VFW gravesite presentation was with full military honors. I am a service connected disabled veteran (Vietnam Era/7th Army Europe), and was greatly moved. The Honors Unit presented themselves with dignity, reminding us of the need of service to our country, as well as Uncle Art’s honorable service. In Art’s belongings we found four Navy medals, still in their original boxes. So like Uncle Art to have them carefully marked but modestly put away.
These people who came together were from all age groups and backgrounds, adding even more to the depth of love and respect my sisters and I have for our Uncle Art. He was an inspiration to us. It was wonderful to share this appreciation of his inspiration with others who also knew his special qualities. If grief can be tempered by a few hours together, sharing common ideals and love for a fine man, this memorial service achieved just that end.
How comforting to know that the tapestry of Uncle Art Strawn’s life is woven so beautifully through time, in memories, and into history. It is comforting to know that one man’s life, that meant so much to us, could mean so much to so many others.
Thank you, Valley Falls, for being there to say “farewell” so beautifully, to our uncle, Art Strawn.
—Susan (Strawn) Rader, Yukon, Okla.
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