Michael Crawford - July 2 2016

July 2 2016

Everyone has an opinion about which Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode is their favorite. To each their own. For me, the greatest episode of MST3K is, hands down, Manos: The Hands of Fate, but not for the reasons you might think.

While "Manos" is, truly, the pinnacle of the Hodgson years, it's my favorite because I saw it for the first time with my friend Brooks Chelesvig .

We had a Saturday night ritual.

1) Hang out for the first hour of MST3K

2) Hit record on the VCR when we had to leave for the studio show at Simpkins Hall

3) Get back to watch the second hour of MST3K after the show.

Except, this time, as blasphemous as it was, we skipped the studio show! Joel, Servo and Crow were just too good to walk away from. I had never seen Brooks laugh that hard, gut-laughing until he was no longer actually emitting sound. His face was red and we were both unable to extricate ourselves from that spectacle to see the studio show that night.

It will always be the way I remember my friend. I will regret losing touch with him for the the rest of my days. In the wonderful picture posted by my friend Sean Byrd, Brooks is over my left shoulder, probably telling me who to hit with that hammer.

Brooks rocked. And the world is less great now that he's gone

Dave Aitkin - July 3 2016

Freshman year of College. ACTF. Green Bay, Wisconsin. Park my car in Macomb at Brian and Brooks' house. Ride vans to Wisconsin. Sitting in the third row back of the "smoking van" between Brooks and Max. Youngest kid on trip. Sittin bitch. Awe, excitement, and honor rolled into one.

Brian makes final competition of 16 with me, Davey (Brooks being the first to refer to me as that on his regular basis) as his scene partner. Skip evening play to sit at hotel bar with Brooks, Brian, and Kati. I'm 19. Brooks tells me to order my beer with confidence. I do. I get beer. Sing karaoke for the first time.

Get back to Macomb. Snowed. Car got towed. Brooks reassures me, drives me to the lot, and fronts the cash to get it out of tow til my Dad gives me the money to pay him back a week later. No questions. Total Brooks.

Freshman. FRESHman. The fondest part of being new is realizing the "varsity" you are surrounded by. Remembering Brooks has me remembering Brian, Max, Darren, Sean, Chuck, Michael, Deni, Eric, Chris, Karl, Christian, Paul... Although we don't speak on a regular basis and maybe only occasionally through this crazy Facebook thing, you men have a strong hold in making me varsity. And I thank you now and remember you harder because of Brooks.

Kati Bush - July 4 2016

Today has been very hard for me. I am not sure if it is feeling guilty for not being able to make it to say my final goodbyes; all the amazing love I feel reading people's memories and seeing pictures; or the gratitude I feel towards Brooks and all of you amazing souls who were a major part in helping me, guiding me, to be the person I am now. Whatever it is, I am filled with love. Thank you.

Colette Benoit - July 9 2016

Brooks Chelseveg

A Prayer For You:

I give you this one thought to keep:

I am with you still. I do not sleep, I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle, autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft starts that shine at night. Do not think of me as gone. I am with you still - in each new dawn.

(Native American Prayer)

The Initial Facebook Thread

Kati Bush

July 2 2016

Dear WIU friends, it is with the saddest heart that I tell you our dear friend, Brooks Chelesvig has passed away. I got a call from his cell today. When I called back his sister, Shelley, shared the sad news. I then spoke with his mom who told me he had started acting again within the last year, having done 3 plays at a community theatre in his home town, Belmond, IA.

They do not have plans yet for services, but I asked that they keep me posted so I can share with all of you.

I will let you know about the service when I get the info. I wasn't able to tag everyone who knew him, so if you see that I missed anyone let them know.

I am sad, but my memories of him are bring me joy that I knew him, acted with him, loved him.

[the reactions]

Amy Grossenheider-Spots

Oh my god. I'm so sorry. What a nice and gracious person..

‪Penny Frank White

‪Thanks for sharing Kati.

‪Chad Fess

Oh my god.

‪Nancy Floriant Berryhille

Wow. Thanks for sharing this with us, Kati. So sad.

‪Brooke Edwards

I am overwhelmed with sadness. I don't know what to say. Thanks for letting us know.

Dave Aitken

This saddens my heart. Thank you for sharing.

Kim Austin Harrison

I have no words ....

Laura Hoske

Kati, thank you for letting us know. XO

‪Brian Harrison

I keep hesitating to type - thinking maybe if I don't type this won't be true.

Michael Crawford

Took me a while, too. We need a do-over.

Deni Mayer

Terrible, terrible news.

Anj Lindsay-Hardin

So sad. What a terrible loss. :(

Chris LoDuca

Ugh. This breaks my heart. Thanks for sharing

Sarah Laleman Ward

Wow. This is terribly sad. Thanks for letting us know.

Matthew Hallock

Shit. Heartbreaking. Was just thinking about him the other day. Thank you for letting us know.

Phillip Delvecchio

So sad. He was such a great guy.

Ronald Payne

So sorry to hear that. I'll keep you and his family in my prayers!!!

Jay Conklin

That's a shame...I Was just thinking of him a few weeks ago...sad

Darren Mangler

Well, shit.

Koko Kelly

Sad, sad news. Dammit...

‪Brian McIntire

Thank you Kati and Gianine for letting me know about this. I am just fucking crushed by this.

Kati Bush

His mom really wanted to make sure you knew. She said he admired you so much. I love you, and miss you. So much of who I am comes from the time I had with you and him. Thank you.

Brooke Edwards

I’m so sorry. I thought of you and Anne Byrd immediately. I am without words.

Amy Grossenheider Spotts

You two had an amazing bond. I was always in awe when the two of you were around.

Nancy Floriant Berryhill

Whenever I think of you I am also reminded of Brooks.

Christine Jesse Klemstein

Love you Brian.

Matthew Hallock

Brian, Let me add my entirely insufficient condolences. Much love, old friend.

Jackie Dellamano

I'm so sorry, Brian. I'm thinking of you, sending hugs and prayers for peace. Love you always. XO

Patricia Biesen

Wow. I'm so sorry for this loss. I remember meeting him a few times. Once at Naha and another time at Neo's.

Chris LoDuca

I keep thinking of you all together. Your collective friendship was quite a force. Peace to you.

Laura Gilbreath Lloyd

I share your pain. I have such amazing memories tied up in the Magnificent 7, that this hits the heart hard. My love goes out to all that had the chance to know Brooks.

Christine Jesse Klemstine

So so sad.

Paulette O’Dowd

So sad...

Laura Gilbreath Lloyd

I will absolutely cherish my memories of him.

Barbara Brandt Kinter

Thank you, Kati, for sharing. I'm devastated. I loved working with him and I loved him.

Chris Blisset

Thanks Kati. Sorry everyone.

Kim Austin Harison

Kati, thank you for letting us all know. Love to all.

Erik Engman

Oh no! Love to everyone. Very sad.

Michael Crawford

He was my friend and this hurts.

‪So many hours spent with him, watching Mystery Science Theater on Saturday nights before the studio shows. It was our regular thing. I have so many funny stories, but now is not the time. I wish we'd kept in contact.

‪Thank you, Kati, for letting us know.

Brian Nordstrom

Remember that time we walked into those girls' house and they had a 4 foot tall cutout of a Budweiser bottle and you said, "hey, it's Brooks! 4 foot tall and full of beer!" We laughed so hard at that. Brooks was one of the great ones. People keep posting about Macbeth, but I remember having such a great time with him during Rashomon. We laughed a lot during that show.

Sean Byrd

There are pics of that show floating around somewhere too. Good times.

Anne Smith

This is heartbreaking. I'm especially sad for his family and those of you who were really close to him. He was so talented and a good soul. I miss him.

Chris Blisset

I am very sad about this.

Barbara Brandt Kinter

I found this article and photo from a little over a year ago. He looks like he was happy.

http://globegazette.com/.../article_46fb94b5-6135-524f...

Karl Sundstrom

I'm miserable right now. Just stunned and sad.

He was a good friend back in the day and I'm beyond angry and crushed he has passed.

‪

Jackie Dellamano

He was our friend and we all loved him. I pray he is at peace. I pray he remembers how many people cared about him and all the fun times we had at WIU. Thank you Kati for letting us all know. I'm so sorry for your loss, our loss, and know you must be hurting. I'm sending you lots of love and hugs. To the rest of my WIU family, from the bottom of my heart, I tell you now I love you all. There is a very special place in my heart for my WIU friends and that is something I will carry with me always. Thank you for being such a wonderful part of my life. Rest in peace Brooks. XO

Brian McIntire

I remember holding out hope that he might join us for the WIU reunion last year, knowing in my heart he probably would not. There was, again, a faint glimmer of hope that he would reconsider things and go out to Chicago at the end of this month for the next one, surprising everyone and lighting up the whole fucking city with happiness, laughter and joy.

Dashed hopes, now and forever.

Karen Baines

Sad news. Prayers go out to family and loved ones.

Landon Shaw

Thank you, Kati, and to my entire WIU Family, I thinking of you all. I loved always getting to know and hang with the Grad Students and I remember Brooks so well. Great laugh and always looked out for me. Brian, sending extra love and thoughts your way.

Andrea Robertson

Horrible sad news! So young! Thoughts and prayers to his family. Love to the rest of you, my WIU theatre family.

Anj Lindsay-Hardin

His flame burned too bright...and was extinguished too soon...

Matthew Metevia

So very sad to hear that we have lost another of our family members. Thanks for the heads up Kati....this one cuts close. Miss you all more than ever.

David Patrick

I am sorry to hear this. And as one of the several WIU faculty members who knew Brooks as part of the family, we are saddened to hear of his passing.

Stacie Knock

Kati, thank you for being so honest with us, and for sharing this heart-wrenching news that we just don't want to believe, but must.

‪My heart breaks for Brooks.

‪My heart breaks for his dearest, best friends & family, who are some of my dearest best friends & family.

‪My heart breaks for it LOVES.

‪To my ENTIRE WIU FAMILY...

You are in my every breath & heartbeat.

‪I am EVER so grateful to have you as tenants.

ALL MY LOVE,

‪YOU BEAUTIFUL SOULS.

Paul Stancato

Brooks was a good man. My thoughts and prayers are with his family! From this thread alone he is loved and remembered.

Eric Sandeen

I'm so saddened to hear this. He was a great talent and a great person.

Lynn Steven Johanson

Oh, man! Such sad news. I had always hoped he would be able to conquer his demons. This is heartbreaking.

Ken Nesbit

I am so sorry to hear about Brooks. He was a good man with a beautiful soul. My prayers and sympathies.

Evan Whitfield

I'm sorry to hear it. Thank you for letting me know.

Gail Rastorfer

Oh no. I am so so sorry.

Natalie Gray

Hi all. Just reading this thread, and thanks, Kim, for tagging me so that I'd know. What a dear and funny man Brooks was, and how much emptier the world will be without him. I am grateful to have known him and been touched by his heart. Much love to all of us!

Chuck Lotta

I still keep a Chelesvig Realty refrigerator magnet (of his fathers business), from off the fridge at the place he and Brian shared. I would never get rid of it. It is a simple memory portal back to hanging out with him, joking and laughing, and seeing that great smile he had.

BROOKS JAMES CHELESVIG (Jan 14 1968 - Jul 1 2016)

Brooks was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 14, 1968. The family lived in Prairie City, Iowa. They moved to Newark, Illinois, in 1969, then to Belmond in 1970. He started school in the Belmond Schools before the family moved to Anita, Iowa, when he was in the fourth grade. In 1984 they returned to Belmond. Brooks graduated from Belmond High School in 1986, attended Iowa State University, earning  a bachelor's degree in Theater. He then attended the Western Illinois University Theater Master's program.

At the completion of his Master's degree at WIU, Brooks - along with several of his friends -moved to Chicago and created the Wax Fruit Theater Company, beginning their adventure into the unknown. After a few years of production, the company disbanded and following several years of corporate restaurant management, Brooks was ready to leave Illinois and return to Iowa.

He enjoyed being back with his family and in 2014 found a new home with the Iowa River Players group. He enjoyed their presentations and the company, and it gave him the opportunity to get back onstage. He enjoyed the experience and the friendships that he made there.

Brooks' smiles, laughter, kindness and love will be missed by all, especially his father and mother, James and Carolyn (Caye) Chelesvig, his sister, Shelley Chelesvig, and nephews Chandler Bachman-Chelesvig and Jameson Bachman-Chelesvig, all of Belmond, IA.