Robert Crawford
Age - 93
November 6, 2023
Robert (Bob) H. Crawford departed this life on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, joining his bride of 64 years, Donna, in the heavenly realms. They are together once again, walking the streets of gold. Bob was born on June 22, 1930 to Edwin and Hazel Crawford of Sidney, Iowa. He is survived by his three sons, James (Linda) of Murietta, California, Jeffrey (Cheryl) of Purcellville, Virginia, and John of Sidney; sister Beverly and nephew Bryan (Cindy) LaGree of Leawood, Kansas; niece Jane (Kent) Allingham of Lake Mary, Florida; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Bob attended the Sidney schools and upon graduation, he pursued a degree in business administration at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. His studies were interrupted by a short commitment to the Air Force during the Korean War, where he was trained and served as a radiological technician. During his first leave from the Air Force he married Donna, his college sweetheart, in Council Bluffs, Iowa on December 30, 1951. Their first home was in Bangor, Maine where Bob continued his Air Force service. Upon release from the Air Force, both Bob and Donna completed their degrees at Simpson College. Bob received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and shortly thereafter completed a one-year study at the St. Louis College of Mortuary Science. It was during this time in St. Louis that his twin sons Jim and Jeff were born. From St. Louis he and Donna moved to Sidney with their young family, where he joined his father Edwin Crawford in the Crawford Funeral Home and Crawford Furniture businesses. Bob and Donna saw the funeral business as God's calling upon their lives, and they endeavored to serve their clients and families with care and compassion. Donna embraced her role helping in the funeral business, as had her mother-in-law Hazel before her. For more than 30 years Bob was also integral to the Crawford Furniture Store, beginning after his graduation from mortuary school. He purchased the business from his father in 1968 and continued its operation, along with a funeral home in both Sidney and Tabor, until the 1984 sale of the furniture store to Martin Maher, former employee and devoted friend of the family. The funeral homes were also sold in 1984, to the Marshall family of Nebraska City. Bob continued his involvement with Marshall Funeral Homes for five more years after the sale. Bob was active in the community as a member of the Presbyterian Church, member of the board of Great Western Community Bank (now First Interstate), the Chamber of Commerce, and the American Legion, serving for many years in the rodeo hospital. He was instrumental in establishing the Ambassador Health Center in Sidney to serve the long-term care needs of the community and was a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association. After selling his businesses and full retirement, Bob and Donna enjoyed spending their winters in Mesa, AZ for over 20 years. Bob was well known for his work ethic and his colorful storytelling, wit, and humor. He will be sadly missed. Visitation will be conducted Wednesday evening, November 8th from 5 to 7 pm at the Marshall Funeral Chapel in Sidney, followed by funeral services at the Victory Life Church in Sidney on Thursday at 2 pm. Interment will be in the Sidney cemetery with Military Graveside Rites by the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post #128. Memorials will go to the Sidney Victory Life Church. The Marshall Funeral Chapel in Sidney, IA is in charge of arrangements.Show more
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