We too often wait until someone has died or moved away to express our appreciation of them in our lives. There can be no doubt, though, that Pearl Haapajoki is appreciated by many in the Kingston community. Pearl has lived in Kingston all of her 82 years. She married here and raised her children here. But she has sold her home and is moving to Bagley in northern Minnesota to be nearer her daughter. On Sunday, June 20, many of her friends gathered to give her a grand send-off. Besides the obligatory (and delicious) pot-luck dinner, there was a small program. Friends shared poems and memories. Carol (Peterson) Jahnke remembered growing up hearing “Go ask Pearl” as the answer to many of her queries. Pearl was active in the church, garden club, and just about every organization in Kingston. “I only hope she’ll still be available by phone,” Carol added. Barb Root revealed the underground activity that Pearl has been involved in for years: the Lutheran church women’s basement group. Barb shared a song, “Us Lutheran Women.” Part of the chorus goes, “We clean and we cook the old-fashioned way.” Apparently, cleaning is Pearl’s specialty. Pearl’s daughter Lynette said that “Kingston will always be our home.” She expressed gratitude for the joy within the Kingston community that was so much a part of her growing up here. “Bagley is not the end of the world,” Lynette said, “but you can see it from there.” Friends nearly had to cancel Sunday’s get-together. Pearl suffered a stroke just a few days before and was hospitalized. She was given doctor’s permission to spend limited time in crowds. Despite her objections and statements that she’s “just a nobody,” dozens of her friends and neighbors celebrated Pearl’s role in their lives. It’s one more reminder to appreciate each other today since there’s no guarantee of a tomorrow. Pearl will be gone but certainly not forgotten. She will return to Kingston nearly every week to attend the many activities she’s been involved with for so long.
