SPARTA — Well known business man, Frederick (Fred) Crawford, was called to his Savior’s side on Aug. 9, 2011, at his home in Sparta.
Fred and his wife, Joan, were the owners for 43 years of American Scrap Iron & Metal Co, later changed to American Scrap Iron & Auto Recyclers, Inc. when their son, Bryon, joined them. In 1999, the salvage yard closed to the strict APA & DNR restrictions.
In 2003, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Rasmussen building, which is now Crawfords New and Used LLC (Furniture, Antiques, and Collectibles). Their son, Bryon, owns the business but Fred and Joan worked there daily.
Fred was born on Sept. 9, 1931, in Shennington, Wis., son of Fred and Anna (Umback) Crawford. He was the youngest of 11 children. He completed his eighth-grade education and then he was needed at the family farm.
Fred served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War as an electrician and was stationed on the USS Block Island Carrier Ship.
Fred married Joan (Gamerdinger) in Tomah, on Sept. 5, 1953. They lived in Norfolk, Va., then to Green Clove Spring, Fla., where daughter, Sherry Ann was born. After serving four years in the Navy, Fred ran a service station in Florida near the Naval base. In 1957, they moved back to Tomah.
He worked for Taft & Conway as a mechanic for eight years. Fred and Joan owned an apartment house on Woodard Ave. in Tomah. They had a son, Bryon, in 1958.
In 1964, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Frank Sanders junkyard in Sparta, renaming it to American Scrap Iron & Metal Co. In 1967, due to the Lyndon B. Johnson Beautification Act, they relocated their business to the Ralph Mantzke turkey farm on Hwy. 71 where it remained until 1999. Fred, Joan, and their son, Bryon, enhanced the business that sold parts nationwide from their stock of 3,500 vehicles.
Fred and Joan enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., and abroad, including Alaska, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, and Hawaii. They wintered as “snow birds” in Marana, Ariz., for 14 years, which they dearly loved and missed. They enjoyed their 50th anniversary with an Alaskan cruise.
Fred was a faithful and active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church serving on the Church Council, also as the Financial Secretary, and snowplowing for the church for many years.
Fred was a cancer survivor for 33 years and was the first person to have a stent placed on the aorta artery at Gundersen Lutheran.
Fred enjoyed working, cutting wood, hunting (especially his trophy elk he got in Rifle, Colo.), fishing (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada), playing cards, playing horseshoes and in tournaments, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren especially at his fish pond that he dug.
Fred was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joan; daughter, SherryAnn (George) Villarreal; son, Bryon (Faith) Crawford; grandsons, George (Josie) Villarreal, and Tyson Villarreal (girlfriend Alyssa); great-granddaughters, Clara and Lizabeth Villarreal; sister, Irene Blomberg of Port Angeles, Wash.; nephew, Wayne Duncan, who was like a brother so dear to him; niece, Yvonne Dunaway, who was very close to him; nieces, nephews, and lots of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers, Alex, Roland, Bernard, and Bill Crawford; his five sisters, Violet Gusten, Mona Parkhurst, Eula DeLap, Margaret Mikalayazyk, and Birdie McCall.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to doctors and nurses, palliative care and hospice of Gundersen Lutheran, and his favorite Dr. Wayne Bottner, who took care of him for 32 years, for the compassionate care Fred received for his illness over the years.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Sparta, with the Reverend Mark Wessel officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by VFW Post 2112 will be in the church cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to call from 5 until 8 p.m. on Thursday at the church and on Friday at the church from 1 p.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, Fred requested donations be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sparta, and Gundersen Lutheran Cancer and Hospice Center. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” – Second Timothy 4:7-8
Fred and his wife, Joan, were the owners for 43 years of American Scrap Iron & Metal Co, later changed to American Scrap Iron & Auto Recyclers, Inc. when their son, Bryon, joined them. In 1999, the salvage yard closed to the strict APA & DNR restrictions.
In 2003, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Rasmussen building, which is now Crawfords New and Used LLC (Furniture, Antiques, and Collectibles). Their son, Bryon, owns the business but Fred and Joan worked there daily.
Fred was born on Sept. 9, 1931, in Shennington, Wis., son of Fred and Anna (Umback) Crawford. He was the youngest of 11 children. He completed his eighth-grade education and then he was needed at the family farm.
Fred served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War as an electrician and was stationed on the USS Block Island Carrier Ship.
Fred married Joan (Gamerdinger) in Tomah, on Sept. 5, 1953. They lived in Norfolk, Va., then to Green Clove Spring, Fla., where daughter, Sherry Ann was born. After serving four years in the Navy, Fred ran a service station in Florida near the Naval base. In 1957, they moved back to Tomah.
He worked for Taft & Conway as a mechanic for eight years. Fred and Joan owned an apartment house on Woodard Ave. in Tomah. They had a son, Bryon, in 1958.
In 1964, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Frank Sanders junkyard in Sparta, renaming it to American Scrap Iron & Metal Co. In 1967, due to the Lyndon B. Johnson Beautification Act, they relocated their business to the Ralph Mantzke turkey farm on Hwy. 71 where it remained until 1999. Fred, Joan, and their son, Bryon, enhanced the business that sold parts nationwide from their stock of 3,500 vehicles.
Fred and Joan enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., and abroad, including Alaska, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, and Hawaii. They wintered as “snow birds” in Marana, Ariz., for 14 years, which they dearly loved and missed. They enjoyed their 50th anniversary with an Alaskan cruise.
Fred was a faithful and active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church serving on the Church Council, also as the Financial Secretary, and snowplowing for the church for many years.
Fred was a cancer survivor for 33 years and was the first person to have a stent placed on the aorta artery at Gundersen Lutheran.
Fred enjoyed working, cutting wood, hunting (especially his trophy elk he got in Rifle, Colo.), fishing (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada), playing cards, playing horseshoes and in tournaments, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren especially at his fish pond that he dug.
Fred was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joan; daughter, SherryAnn (George) Villarreal; son, Bryon (Faith) Crawford; grandsons, George (Josie) Villarreal, and Tyson Villarreal (girlfriend Alyssa); great-granddaughters, Clara and Lizabeth Villarreal; sister, Irene Blomberg of Port Angeles, Wash.; nephew, Wayne Duncan, who was like a brother so dear to him; niece, Yvonne Dunaway, who was very close to him; nieces, nephews, and lots of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers, Alex, Roland, Bernard, and Bill Crawford; his five sisters, Violet Gusten, Mona Parkhurst, Eula DeLap, Margaret Mikalayazyk, and Birdie McCall.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to doctors and nurses, palliative care and hospice of Gundersen Lutheran, and his favorite Dr. Wayne Bottner, who took care of him for 32 years, for the compassionate care Fred received for his illness over the years.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Sparta, with the Reverend Mark Wessel officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by VFW Post 2112 will be in the church cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to call from 5 until 8 p.m. on Thursday at the church and on Friday at the church from 1 p.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, Fred requested donations be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sparta, and Gundersen Lutheran Cancer and Hospice Center. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” – Second Timothy 4:7-8
SPARTA — Well known business man, Frederick (Fred) Crawford, was called to his Savior’s side on Aug. 9, 2011, at his home in Sparta.
Fred and his wife, Joan, were the owners for 43 years of American Scrap Iron & Metal Co, later changed to American Scrap Iron & Auto Recyclers, Inc. when their son, Bryon, joined them. In 1999, the salvage yard closed to the strict APA & DNR restrictions.
In 2003, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Rasmussen building, which is now Crawfords New and Used LLC (Furniture, Antiques, and Collectibles). Their son, Bryon, owns the business but Fred and Joan worked there daily.
Fred was born on Sept. 9, 1931, in Shennington, Wis., son of Fred and Anna (Umback) Crawford. He was the youngest of 11 children. He completed his eighth-grade education and then he was needed at the family farm.
Fred served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War as an electrician and was stationed on the USS Block Island Carrier Ship.
Fred married Joan (Gamerdinger) in Tomah, on Sept. 5, 1953. They lived in Norfolk, Va., then to Green Clove Spring, Fla., where daughter, Sherry Ann was born. After serving four years in the Navy, Fred ran a service station in Florida near the Naval base. In 1957, they moved back to Tomah.
He worked for Taft & Conway as a mechanic for eight years. Fred and Joan owned an apartment house on Woodard Ave. in Tomah. They had a son, Bryon, in 1958.
In 1964, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Frank Sanders junkyard in Sparta, renaming it to American Scrap Iron & Metal Co. In 1967, due to the Lyndon B. Johnson Beautification Act, they relocated their business to the Ralph Mantzke turkey farm on Hwy. 71 where it remained until 1999. Fred, Joan, and their son, Bryon, enhanced the business that sold parts nationwide from their stock of 3,500 vehicles.
Fred and Joan enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., and abroad, including Alaska, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, and Hawaii. They wintered as “snow birds” in Marana, Ariz., for 14 years, which they dearly loved and missed. They enjoyed their 50th anniversary with an Alaskan cruise.
Fred was a faithful and active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church serving on the Church Council, also as the Financial Secretary, and snowplowing for the church for many years.
Fred was a cancer survivor for 33 years and was the first person to have a stent placed on the aorta artery at Gundersen Lutheran.
Fred enjoyed working, cutting wood, hunting (especially his trophy elk he got in Rifle, Colo.), fishing (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada), playing cards, playing horseshoes and in tournaments, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren especially at his fish pond that he dug.
Fred was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joan; daughter, SherryAnn (George) Villarreal; son, Bryon (Faith) Crawford; grandsons, George (Josie) Villarreal, and Tyson Villarreal (girlfriend Alyssa); great-granddaughters, Clara and Lizabeth Villarreal; sister, Irene Blomberg of Port Angeles, Wash.; nephew, Wayne Duncan, who was like a brother so dear to him; niece, Yvonne Dunaway, who was very close to him; nieces, nephews, and lots of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers, Alex, Roland, Bernard, and Bill Crawford; his five sisters, Violet Gusten, Mona Parkhurst, Eula DeLap, Margaret Mikalayazyk, and Birdie McCall.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to doctors and nurses, palliative care and hospice of Gundersen Lutheran, and his favorite Dr. Wayne Bottner, who took care of him for 32 years, for the compassionate care Fred received for his illness over the years.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Sparta, with the Reverend Mark Wessel officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by VFW Post 2112 will be in the church cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to call from 5 until 8 p.m. on Thursday at the church and on Friday at the church from 1 p.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, Fred requested donations be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sparta, and Gundersen Lutheran Cancer and Hospice Center. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” – Second Timothy 4:7-8
Fred and his wife, Joan, were the owners for 43 years of American Scrap Iron & Metal Co, later changed to American Scrap Iron & Auto Recyclers, Inc. when their son, Bryon, joined them. In 1999, the salvage yard closed to the strict APA & DNR restrictions.
In 2003, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Rasmussen building, which is now Crawfords New and Used LLC (Furniture, Antiques, and Collectibles). Their son, Bryon, owns the business but Fred and Joan worked there daily.
Fred was born on Sept. 9, 1931, in Shennington, Wis., son of Fred and Anna (Umback) Crawford. He was the youngest of 11 children. He completed his eighth-grade education and then he was needed at the family farm.
Fred served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean War as an electrician and was stationed on the USS Block Island Carrier Ship.
Fred married Joan (Gamerdinger) in Tomah, on Sept. 5, 1953. They lived in Norfolk, Va., then to Green Clove Spring, Fla., where daughter, Sherry Ann was born. After serving four years in the Navy, Fred ran a service station in Florida near the Naval base. In 1957, they moved back to Tomah.
He worked for Taft & Conway as a mechanic for eight years. Fred and Joan owned an apartment house on Woodard Ave. in Tomah. They had a son, Bryon, in 1958.
In 1964, Fred and his wife, Joan, bought the Frank Sanders junkyard in Sparta, renaming it to American Scrap Iron & Metal Co. In 1967, due to the Lyndon B. Johnson Beautification Act, they relocated their business to the Ralph Mantzke turkey farm on Hwy. 71 where it remained until 1999. Fred, Joan, and their son, Bryon, enhanced the business that sold parts nationwide from their stock of 3,500 vehicles.
Fred and Joan enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S., and abroad, including Alaska, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, and Hawaii. They wintered as “snow birds” in Marana, Ariz., for 14 years, which they dearly loved and missed. They enjoyed their 50th anniversary with an Alaskan cruise.
Fred was a faithful and active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church serving on the Church Council, also as the Financial Secretary, and snowplowing for the church for many years.
Fred was a cancer survivor for 33 years and was the first person to have a stent placed on the aorta artery at Gundersen Lutheran.
Fred enjoyed working, cutting wood, hunting (especially his trophy elk he got in Rifle, Colo.), fishing (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada), playing cards, playing horseshoes and in tournaments, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren especially at his fish pond that he dug.
Fred was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joan; daughter, SherryAnn (George) Villarreal; son, Bryon (Faith) Crawford; grandsons, George (Josie) Villarreal, and Tyson Villarreal (girlfriend Alyssa); great-granddaughters, Clara and Lizabeth Villarreal; sister, Irene Blomberg of Port Angeles, Wash.; nephew, Wayne Duncan, who was like a brother so dear to him; niece, Yvonne Dunaway, who was very close to him; nieces, nephews, and lots of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers, Alex, Roland, Bernard, and Bill Crawford; his five sisters, Violet Gusten, Mona Parkhurst, Eula DeLap, Margaret Mikalayazyk, and Birdie McCall.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to doctors and nurses, palliative care and hospice of Gundersen Lutheran, and his favorite Dr. Wayne Bottner, who took care of him for 32 years, for the compassionate care Fred received for his illness over the years.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church, Sparta, with the Reverend Mark Wessel officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by VFW Post 2112 will be in the church cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to call from 5 until 8 p.m. on Thursday at the church and on Friday at the church from 1 p.m. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, Fred requested donations be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sparta, and Gundersen Lutheran Cancer and Hospice Center. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.
The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” – Second Timothy 4:7-8
Family Members
Siblings
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Violet Arvilla Crawford Peak
1907–1994
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Bernard F Crawford
1908–1993
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Eula Blanch Crawford Delap
1910–2003
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Cornelius B. "Bill" Crawford
1913–1984
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Monnie Anna Crawford Gross Parkhurst
1915–2003
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Roland Theodore Crawford
1918–1969
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Margaret Lucretia Crawford Mikolajczyk
1920–2008
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Minnie Irene Crawford Blomberg
1922–2012
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Birdie Crawford McCall
1925–2011
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