The past year was the last on this earth for some people you might have loved. "Gunsmoke" fans will grieve for James Arness (age 88) and golf fanatics will miss the irrepressible Seve Ballesteros (he was only 54). Baseball fans will reminisce about Duke Snider and Harmon Killebrew. Ironically two of the greatest analysts of American culture and opinion passed away this year--George Gallup, Jr., and Arthur C. Nielsen, Jr.

Not that you asked, but if you are interested at all in my "Won't Miss" and "Will Miss" list, read on.

Won't Miss

#1 Osama bin Laden. May his death speed the day when U.S. troops can get out of Afghanistan.

#2 Dr. Jack Kevorkian (a.k.a. "Doctor Death") has assisted his last suicide.

#3 Muammar Qaddafi. There is no clear indication of what kind of long-term government will replace him, but one less cruel and brutal dictator seems like great news for the Arab world.


Will Miss

1. Three great evangelical writers: Eugene Nida, a giant in the field of Bible translation and missionary training as long-time director for translation for the American Bible Society; John Stott, dean of British evangelicals; and C.K. Barrett, British New Testament scholar and commentary author.

2. Bil Keane. The gentle humor in his "Family Circus" cartoons made people believe in family life all over again.

3. Harry Morgan. His leadership style as Col. Sherman Potter transcended comedy.

4. Tom Keith. Anyone who has ever listened to the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" would have heard thousands of sound effects come from his delightful rubbery lips.

5. Pinetop Perkins. One of the very last old-time Mississippi blues musicians; played piano for Muddy Waters.

6. Dr. Bernard Nathanson. Once an outspoken abortionist who admitted to performing more than 75,000 of them, he converted to Christianity and devoted the rest of his life to fighting against abortion. Author of Aborting America and directed the movie The Silent Scream.

7. Salman Taseer, a Pakistani provincial governor who dared to try to save the life of a Christian woman sentenced to die under the country's harsh blasphmy laws; he was gunned down by his own security guard.

So--who's on your list?