CLOWNS KEEP US LAUGHING

CLOWNS KEEP US LAUGHING

Our Clown Ministry brings the joy and laughter of being a Christian alive for people who might not otherwise have much to laugh about. The clowns become our ambassadors at occasional community functions, visit in local nursing homes, and enliven many church programs.

Jan 9, 2004 King of clowns
By George Hutchens

Family, friends and students came together Thursday to honor Earle Kracht during a memorial service at the First United Methodist Church of Homosassa. Kracht was active in many community organizations but was best known for the clown classes he taught at the Nature Coast Volunteer Center. Many of Kracht's former students dressed as clowns for the service and reception. DAVE SIGLER/Chronicle

Family, friends have a last laugh with and remember Earle Kracht, who died

Sunday, at age 78, but passed on his love and knowledge of clowning.

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Never did makeup hide the long faces so well. On Tuesday funeral services were held for Earle Kracht, Citrus County's "Doctor of Clownology."

Kracht died last Sunday at 78.

To pay tribute to the man who brought the tricks of the clown trade to Citrus County's schools, hospitals, nursing homes and human services, about 20 of Kracht's protégés turned out for the funeral in red noses, clunky shoes and full clown outfits at the First United Methodist Church of Homosassa.

The faces were painted with smiles, but Thursday the clowns were subdued.

They told stories of Kracht's teachings. Some, like "Sparkles" - that's Norm Dontigney of Inverness - offered a word of remembrance.

"He's with the clown angels up there," Dontigney said during the funeral service.

Kracht arrived in the county in 1995 from Elk Grove, Ill., after a career in management. His family, including daughter Nancy Schumacher of Homosassa, were in the front row of the service Thursday.

Once he had arrived in Citrus, Kracht's volunteer service was noticed quickly. Now they're wondering how they'll cope without him.

The Rev. Mark Whittaker said that the Homosassa Springs Kiwanis Club met this week, just to sort out how they'll survive without Kracht. He guessed that Kracht filled the shoes of six to eight volunteers by himself.

Kracht's volunteerism would reach beyond the Homosassa area. He would serve as a clown teacher to hundreds of county residents who wanted a new way to help the disadvantaged, the sick, and those in grief.

His students fanned out all over the county at the end of the six-week courses, lightening the air at county events such as the Key Training Center's Run for the Money in July.

Cabot McBride, the Key Center's residential services director, called Kracht a "sweet-spirited" man whose presence would light up the faces of clients there.

Dolli Scott, a former chairwoman of Learn to Read of Citrus County, stood up at the service to say that Kracht was so kind that he didn't know when to say "No."

"He would walk in, and say, 'Where do you want me to go,' " she said.

And Patience Nave, a school board member, remembered that Kracht took a liking to her because she didn't spook easily - an attribute of any clown's good friends.

Similar tales came from the church, the Nature Coast Volunteer Center, the county's Sunday schools, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and a number of other charitable organizations.

Over the years, Kracht would make hundreds of trips to patients of Hospice of Citrus County. Wendy Hall, social services manager at Hospice, said she was weary of having clowns at bereavement camps, until Kracht brought along his touch.

"We didn't think it would fit at first," she said. "Then we realized, people didn't need to talk about death the whole time. He and the others became a welcomed diversion."

But it was the clowns who sat together, drawn by the sweet spirit of their professor, who unabashedly attracted the attention of - and lightened up - a somber occasion. Their names evoked that spirit - Ribbit, Silly Dilly, Buttercup, Francie, Rosie, Juno, Sweetpea, Futterbly. Their stories spoke of a teacher who tried to unearth joy from people who weren't showing it on the surface.

"It's out there," Dontigney said. "He would tell us to bring the heart out with people."

Last Updated 04/18/2004