ROBERT E. “BOB” CROUSE

Robert “Bob” Crouse

Robert E. “Bob” Crouse, 86, of Rushville died at 2:22 a.m. Nov. 30, 2018, at his home.

He was born Sept. 30, 1932, in Virginia, Ill., a son of Ruel and Elizabeth E. Williams Crouse. He married Delores “Dee” Sipes on March 27, 1954, in Rushville. She preceded him in death on Sept. 2, 2017.

He also was preceded in death by three brothers, William Crouse, James Crouse and Ruel Crouse; and one sister, Mary Reeder.

Surviving are four children, Ricky Lee (and Linda) Crouse of Gillette, Wyo., Robert “Robbie” Crouse of Norris City, Roger Eugene (and Shirley) Crouse of Freeburg and Connie (and Marty) Sommer of Springfield; four brothers, Kenneth (and Maureen) Crouse of Montgomery, Ala., Carroll (and Joyce) Crouse of Macomb, Virgil “Ray” (and Bev) Crouse of Arkansas and Ronnie (and Nancy) Crouse of Fairview; two sisters, Shirley (and Chet) Thurman of Canton and Patty Wood of Montgomery, Ala.; six grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and four step great-grandchildren.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict where he was awarded two Bronze Stars. He began his career with Peabody Coal as a drag line operator in 1957 at the Key Mine in Rushville. In 1966, he transferred to Southern Illinois to work at the Eagle Mine in Shawneetown. He transferred to Arch Mineral in 1977 and worked at the Captain and Horse Creek Mines, retiring on April 1, 1994. In 1998, he came out of retirement and worked for Drummond Mines in South America until 2001.

He was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Schuyler American Legion Post #4, where he served on the Honor Guard, Guthrie-Pierce Post #1208 VFW in Beardstown, the United Mine Workers, Marissa Masonic Lodge #9 A.F. & A.M. and the Rushville Lions Club, where he was awarded a 50-year pin and the Melvin Jones Award. He volunteered with the Schuyler County Food Basket.

Services were held Tuesday at the Wood Funeral Home in Rushville with his grandson Robert D. Crouse officiating. Burial was in the Messerer Cemetery near Frederick with military rites by Schuyler American Legion Post #4 and the U.S. Army Burial Detail. Masonic Services were held Monday.

Memorials may be made to his church or the Schuyler County Food Basket.

Condolences may be sent to www.woodfh.net.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 12/5/2018