Lance Griswold

LANCE GRISWOLD

Cedar Rapids

Lance Robert Griswold, 46, of Boulder Creek, Calif., formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Jan. 12, 2014.

Surviving are his dad, Robert Griswold of Cedar Rapids; sister, Janie; nieces and nephews; his

significant other, Kathleen Azevedo of Boulder Creek; and his best friend,

Matilda, his dog.

There are simply not enough ways to sum up the life of Lance Griswold. Carpenter, superhero, hustler, barroom philosopher, degenerate, benevolent, shrewd, awake and angry for the right reasons barely begin to tell the tale. He was a paradox; he was

cynical beyond belief, yet would rescue baby birds and always had a place for the displaced to sleep. He was a student of history. Politics was his favorite sport. You always knew where you stood with the man, because he would go on and on about it.

To even begin to understand Lance's life, you would have to be versed in Hunter S. Thompson, Public Enemy, The Grateful Dead, Mark Twain, Hank Williams Sr., Neil Gaiman, Will Rogers, Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins and the Bible and be expected to quote directly from any of them at any given time.

He is deeply missed and recklessly remembered. He loved his family immensely, and he was a constant reminder that blood doesn't limit who one is

related to.

Even while sitting in Boulder Creek, Calif., he would always wear a Hawkeye hat and a HyVee T-shirt every Saturday during football season.

True wisdom lies in being able to laugh at yourself. To be willing to take the controls and pilot into the abyss or into the heavens. To say what everyone else is thinking – however irreverent it may be.

This is who we remember and this is who we

celebrate.