A Special Request for Your Prayers:
The Passing of CPCSM's Mascot, "Skipper"

Skipper with Bill Kummer

On Saturday, June 1st, Bill Kummer lost his constant companion, Skipper, whom he referred to as his "dog-child,"and CPCSM lost its Mascot of 15 years. Skipper, 21 years old, whose health had been deteriorating for a long time and of late was almost daily becoming increasingly more and more disabled, was put to sleep at Bill's reluctant request, by his home-visiting veterinarian at Bill's apartment, with Bill's loving friends Leo Bove and Martin Dohmen at his side. Later that day Skipper's remains were laid to rest in a wooded area on a friend's farm south of the Twin Cities, following a brief prayer ritual.

Anyone who has known Bill could not help but get to know Skipper as well. The two of them were inseparable, and until Skipper's recent poor health had rendered him too vulnerable to travel by auto, Skipper would be at Bill's side wherever he went. Skipper regularly accompanied Bill to the CPCSM office at St. Stephen's and was at his side at all CPCSM's Board meetings and other official functions. Skipper would also be at Bill's side at the lectures Bill would give on AIDS/HIV as a MAP speaker, as well as at all of Bill's social outings. Skipper was actually an important part of Bill's MAP speaking ministry, especially among elementary school children with whom Skipper was very popular and initially the center of attention when Bill would enter a classroom to begin a talk.

Also before Skipper's failing health had made long walks impossible, for many years Bill and Skipper had become nightly fixtures on Hennepin Avenue near the public library and in the warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis as they went for long walks each night -- often for a mile or more. Bill has expressed his belief that Skipper was God's gift to him to help him cope with his own health condition and that the walks were part of their mutual care for one another -- Bill walked Skipper to keep him healthy and in the process Bill's health was also enhanced.

It was endearing to see how well they each took care of one another. On more than one occasion Bill had to defend Skipper from a hostile individual on the street who threatened to harm him. And a number of winters ago, when Bill fell on the ice near his apartment and was temporarily unable to get up, Skipper lay on Bill's chest to keep him warm until he was able to recover from the shock of the fall.

Please keep Bill and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of their dear furry friend and companion -- as Bill refers to him on his answering machine message -- "Skipper the Wonder Dog."

If you wish to express to Bill your support in his time of grief, please try to avoid contacting him by phone, due to his own health limitations. Instead, consider sending a card or a note to Bill's address:

Bill Kummer
314 Hennepin Avenue, #915,
Minneapolis, MN 55401.