Russell Crooks
March 26, 1933 ~ March 5, 2012
Russell R. Crooks age 79 of Charles City died Monday, March 5, 2012, at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.
Friends may greet the family 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home, Nashua. There will be no formal funeral service and private family interment will take place at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City.
Russell Richard Crooks was born March 26, 1933, in rural Chickasaw County, IA, the son of Loyal and Carol (Parson) Crooks. He received his education in rural country school. He enlisted into the United States Army in 1954 and received an honorable discharge in 1956. On November 23, 1958, at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Nashua, he married Betty Boggess. To this union a son and daughter were born. In 1958, Russell and Betty moved to Kansas City where Russell went to school for diesel and automotive mechanics. After his education, Russell got his first job as a mechanic for the Chevrolet dealer in Elma, IA. In 1962, Russell began working at the former White Farm Equipment Co. in Charles City and made Charles City their home. Russell worked for White Farm until the plant closed and then began working as a mechanic for the former Richards Motors in Charles city until retiring.
In his younger years he loved racing go-carts and snowmobiling and later in life became an avid fisherman and spent a lot of his family time camping.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Betty; one son, Doug (Gail) Crooks of Charles City; one daughter, Connie (Ralph) Reed of Gilbert, AZ; eight grandchildren, Lacey, Brittney, Nick, Angie, Jeff, Tim, Derick and Rebecca; five great-grandchildren, Zachary, Danny, Joey, Kaydence and Samuel; one brother, Clark (Mary) Crooks of OK; four sisters, Alice Barkhausen of Waverly, Lila (Leonard) Dietrich of Manly, Sue (Julius “Bud”) Drewelow of New Hampton, Pernella (Gerald) Monaghan of Waverly.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Wendall Crooks and one sister, Shirley Silber.
Betty My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time Darlene
Very sad to hear about grandpa he is in a better place now an not in any pain. We will miss you!
For what it’s worth….I am a distant cousin of Russell. My Mom was a 1st cousin of Carol Parson Crooks. I had not seen or heard from Russell for many years. My wife and most of our family moved from the farm in Iowa to Texas in 1984. Please accept our sympathy for your loss.