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     Don Japinga's funeral Wednesday at East Lansing's St. Thomas Aquinas Church is my memory of the week.  It was packed with more than 1,000 mourners and it's ironic because he belonged to a church that had exactly the needed room for his friends to say good bye.  It was as if everyone had a ticket.  They all had tickets watching him star for MSU in 1963-64 and 65 and Spartan Stadium was a full house then too.

     The theme was more about his devotion to his kids and family than it was to his football talent and it played well.  Don's son Matt was the final speaker of three and while he offered some needed levity it was tough for him to completely make it through his ten minute delivery.  But he received applause from an appreciative gathering anyway.  Don was beautifully remembered by Celebrant Joseph Krupp and many stayed and mingled after the 70-minute service for the former MSU football captain.  So many flowers on display-- including a huge display of pink roses from "Nick Saban and the Alabama football staff."

     The gathering was a cross section of business associates, friends, family friends and MSU cronies and they all had their sadness as a common theme.  His smiling portrait adorned the front of the church with an urn and that smile won't soon be forgotten.