Services for Norman "Gene" Crouch in Bayard, Iowa

[From the Coon Rapids Enterprise, July 1, 2010, p. 6]:

Services for Norman ‘Gene’ Crouch

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 2nd at 10:30 a.m. for Norman ‘Gene’ Crouch of Bayard who died at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson after complications from a stroke. Visitation will be Thursday (tonight), July 1st from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ohde Funeral Home in Bayard.
Pastor Charlene Wolfe will officiate the service.

Casketbearers will be Gene’s grandsons, James Crouch, Shawn Lyons, Kyle Patrick, Jared Patrick, Ryan Feeley, Brandon Feeley, Tyler Crouch, Riley Crouch and Jake Porter. Honorary casketbearers will be granddaughters Jennifer Cure, Jill Crouch, Carrie Feeley, Ashley Crouch, Marci Crouch, Haley Crouch, Logan Crouch, Tarin Crouch, Payton Crouch and Jozie Porter.

Interment with Military Honors by American Legion Bryan Mercer Post 44 at Highland Township Cemetery near Bayard

Norman ‘Gene’ Crouch

Norman E. ‘Gene’, son of George L. and Leva Ora (McCracken) Crouch was born on August 18, 1929 at Bayard. He attended school in Bayard and then began working for area farmers. In 1946 Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army and served at Fort Knox for two years. After his discharge he returned to the Coon Rapids and Bayard area and worked as a truck driver for Garst and Thomas Seed Company.
On March 18, 1950 Gene was united in marriage with Geneva Herron [Gene and Geneva were "Kinnick Cousins" - Geneva's mother was the former Lucille Kinnick, daughter of Lon and Nettie Kinnick, of Coon Rapids, Iowa] in Des Moines. Gene continued to work as a truck driver for the Highway Post and in 1965 the family moved to Rose Creek, Minnesota. In 1968, Gene took a job as traffic manager for Fort Dodge Transportation and in 1969 the family moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa. Gene then drove for Bush Hog for 20 years, before moving to Bayard in 1989 and retiring from the company in 1991.

After his retirement Gene remained busy, working odd jobs and raising cattle. In his spare time he enjoyed gardening, playing cards and spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a past member of the Odd Fellows.

On June 1, 2010 Gene suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. After returning home for one day, he returned to Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa where he died on June 27, 2010 at the age of 80 years, 10 months and 9 days.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, wife Geneva in 2005; brothers Walter Crouch and Russell Crouch; and sisters: Dorothy Lohman, Mildred Cloe, Lucille Chester, Lila Pierce and Jeanette Griffin.
He is survived by his children: James Crouch of Ft. Dodge; Karen and husband Robert Patrick of Bayard; Virginia and husband Larry Feeley of Ft. Dodge; Terry Crouch and wife Joyce of Wilmington, NC; Scott Crouch and wife Carla of Wilimington, NC; Jon Crouch and wife Pamela of Ft. Dodge; Ann and husband Paul Porter of Ft. Dodge and Jim Morgan of Denver, IA; 19 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Naomi Kepple and Mildred Herron both of Bayard; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Families are Forever!  ;-)