My husband of 42 years passed away last week. His heart stopped beating and he died peacefully in his sleep. Although his health issues were depleting him of his energy during the last few months, his spirit remained strong. He told stories and had lively discussions with family members and friends right up until the day before our Lord Jesus took him to heaven.
For those of us who knew Michael, we recall the stories that he told and the twinkle in his eye when he sometimes “pulled your leg” with a punch line and waited for your response.
He always tried to reach out and establish a friendship with everyone he met. I recall many days coming home and finding a “newfound friend” sitting in the living room having a Heineken with Michael. He loved to meet people and find out who they were, what was important to them. Michael had a wide range of friends including, to name just a few, an artist who did a portrait of me, a BBQ pitmaster, a welder who installed our Civil War iron fence, a retired doctor who happened to walk by the house, several restaurant owners, chefs and managers, the crew at the local hardware store, a real estate agent, a coffee sales rep who supplied us when we owned cafes, bank managers, and many business owners over the years who remained friends long after the business relationship had ceased.
Over his lifetime he cultivated and kept close friends — “brothers”— with whom he went on road trips, sailing adventures, or worked on building projects together. Recently his new friends were doctors. He liked to tell everyone that his cardiologist was “on speed dial on his phone” — which was his endearing way of saying that his doctor was also a friend. If you knew Michael, he considered you a friend.
Michael was a skilled, talented, and knowledgeable builder. He grew up in San Francisco and lived in the Bay Area most of his life. He was always building something, always had a couple of projects going. He loved creating and remodeling a house to make it beautiful for a client. His specialty was tile work. Both his home in Campbell, California, and his 1887 Victorian in Port Townsend were beautified with his creative hands.
When we moved to Port Townsend 20 years ago, Michael said that this Victorian, which we named Grace House, would be his last project. Indeed, it was a 20-year project during which time he lovingly restored each room with period design wallpaper, mosaic tile work, tin ceilings, door moldings, window sashes, doors with 1887 hardware, a 10-foot dining room table and so much more. In the backyard, he created a rose garden for me, a stream with a pond, a brick patio, flower beds, and a garden shed. It is an oasis of calm and beauty. We often sat and shared wine and cheese with friends in the garden.
Here are a few of Michael’s favorite things: Consuming oysters, Russian Pelmeni, salmon roe on black bread, trout and pasta along with Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay, Scotch whiskey and Heineken. Hobbies were fishing for salmon off Point Wilson and trout at Lake Leland, clam and oyster digging, and metal detecting on any beach or campground that we came across. Every day he solved crossword puzzles or Sudoku, and he loved to play Yahtzee. He also made friends with two wild crows — Charlie and Charlotte. He would call them, they would fly in and hop close to him and he fed them Goldfish crackers. Sometimes they would “hang out” with Michael on a sunny afternoon in the backyard. His crows were with us for more than 10 years, before they retired to a crow old folks home (as Michael would put it).
Michael and I were a team who supported each other, in sickness or health, and we operated two businesses together: The Tea Lover’s Shop in Palo Alto, Calif. and The Village Baker & Cafes here in Washington.
Michael’s son lives in Reno and he was proud of his personal accomplishments. Then, last summer his daughter and son-in-law moved from Calif. to a house on Lake Leland. His joy was immeasurable. He also loved being able to fish for trout on the dock at the end of the property.
I will always be thankful for the values that Michael practiced. He wanted to spend time talking with everyone he met. It was not uncommon for a quick cup of coffee to last three hours, or an invite to come see something to turn into a whole-day adventure. He often would help friends with their projects because he was very knowledgeable and always had the tools to do the job. My husband wanted to convey his joy of life, share stories, and most importantly talk about the importance of being right with God. Some may recall he would say “Always have your bags packed!” This was his way of telling us that we needed to accept the free gift of eternal life and ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins — then we would be guaranteed a reservation in heaven.
Michael will be remembered and missed by family: his daughter, Audra Caton; son-in-law Paul Caton; and his son Brandon Klupfell. He had seven grandchildren: Logan Caton, Travis Eldridge, Shawn Caton, and Madelyn Klupfell, Addison Klupfell, Natalya Klupfell, and Spencer Klupfell.
I will always cherish the memories we made together. Every night when we went to bed, Michael would say “Sleep tight and I’ll see you in the morning — and if not ...” and then I would respond, “I’ll see you later.” It is a comfort to know that I will see Michael later.
Soulmates and best friends forever,
– Molly Klupfell
The family plans to host an outdoor Celebration of Life this summer at the Lake Leland house.
