G.B. Crapson

G.B. Crapson was born Oct. 10, 1930, in Wauneta, to Roy L. and Edith W. (French) Crapson. As a youngster, he attended school in Wauneta and country school District No. 14 in Hayes County, northeast of Palisade. Jiggs continued his education in Wauneta, graduating from Wauneta High School in 1956. As a young man, Jiggs worked at the Wauneta Breeze as a printer's devil under Dwayne Hodges, who owned the Breeze from 1948 through 1955. After graduation, Jiggs moved to Franklin, where he was employed by the Franklin Sentinel. Jiggs worked in Denver for a short time before moving to Chadron where he was employed by the Chadron Record newspaper for two years. While he was in Chadron, Jiggs met and married Patricia L. Waltman on June 7, 1958. The couple settled in Chadron for a brief time before moving to Grant, where Jiggs was employed by the Grant Tribune for several years. In 1965, Jiggs and his brother, Bill Crapson, purchased the Wauneta Breeze from former publisher, Stan Smith, launching their publishing careers. They ran the paper together until 1969, when Jiggs became the sole owner. He ran the Wauneta newspaper until selling it to Johnson Publications in 1982.

During his ownership of the Breeze, Crapson also purchased the Benkelman Post., which he later sold, and the Hayes Center Times Republican, which he still owned at the time of his death, along with the Hitchcock County News. As the publisher of the Breeze, Crapson was well remembered for his lively column, "Jottings by Jiggs." He was known for his quick wit, strong community boosterism, devotion to his family and love for all things Irish. He loved to sing and visit with friends. His work as a publisher and editor was his life.

Jiggs passed away early Tuesday morning, April 8, 2003, at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver, Colo. He was 64 years of age.

Jiggs was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wauneta and the Masons. He was also a former member of the Wauneta Jaycees and the Wauneta Volunteer Fire Department.

Jiggs is survived by his wife, Pat of Wauneta; daughter, Connie and husband, Marty Hamilton of Champion, daughter, Patricia and husband, Jon Moellman of New Knoxville, Ohio, son, Michael Crapson and wife, Trina, daughter, DeNise Hoover and daughter, DiAnne Brown all of Imperial; 15 grandchildren, including JoAnn Hoover who lived with her grandparents; four great-grandchildren; brother, Frank Crapson and wife, Maria of Alta Loma, Calif., brother, Bill Crapson and wife, Alta of Kearney; and sister, Jane Molter of Bull Head City, Ariz.

Jiggs was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Ginger Beth; brothers, Roy, Tom and Jim; and infant sister, Susan.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 2 p.m. (MST) at the United Methodist Church in Wauneta with the Rev. Michael Laing officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery of rural Wauneta.

Visitation will be Friday afternoon from 2-6 p.m. (MST) at the funeral home in Wauneta.

A memorial has been established in Jiggs' memory.

Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta is in charge of arrangements.