Melvin DeZell CRABTREE

CRABTREE, DREYER, PEET, MEESTER, KASISCHKE, ZIESMAN, BUBECK, BARTLETT, GORDER, GEDDES, MILLER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/20/2008 at 11:32:51

March 21, 1934 - March 18, 2003

Melvin Crabtree, 68, of Iowa Falls, passed away Tuesday at the Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral services for Melvin Crabtree will be 1:00 pm Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, Iowa Falls, with burial to follow at the Alden Cemetery, Alden, Iowa. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 pm Friday at the Linn's Funeral Homes, Iowa Falls Chapel, with the family present to receive friends between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 pm. Memorials may be directed to the family c/o his wife: Pearl Crabtree, 617 Forest Drive, Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126. The Linn's Funeral Homes Iowa Falls Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Melvin DeZell Crabtree was born March 21, 1934, at Zion, Illinois, the son of DeZell Melvin and Grace Elizabeth (Dreyer) Crabtree. He was confirmed at the Popejoy United Methodist Church in 1947. He attended 1st through 3rd grade at Ellis Community Country School, and then the Popejoy Community Schools graduating with the class of 1952. He attended Ellsworth Community College graduating with an Associates of Human Services degree in 1982. He served with the United States Army from February 8, 1955 to February 7 1957, and the United States Army Reserves from February 8, 1957 to January 31, 1963. He farmed north of Alden, Iowa for many years, and had worked for Farmland Foods, Iowa Falls for 13 years, and the Railroad Express Agency for many years. He worked as an intercity missionary with Sandvick Center and Hospitality House, Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1982 - 1994, after graduating from Ellsworth College, returning to Iowa Falls. He was last employed by the Iowa Falls Community School District as a Bus Driver until his death. He was a member of the Church of the Open Bible, Iowa Falls, Iowa and had served on the Deacon Board, as a Sunday School Teacher, Pianist, and Organist. He enjoyed all sports, model trains, and gardening.

Melvin is survived by his wife: Pearl Elizabeth Crabtree of Iowa Falls; one son: Jerald L. Peet and wife Phyllis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; three daughters: Rose Marie Meester and husband Myron of Holland, Iowa, Jean Elizabeth Crabtree of Forest City, Iowa, Teri Kasischke of Iowa Falls, Iowa; twenty grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; three sisters: Dorothy Ziesman and husband Vern of Alden, Iowa, Allalee Bubeck and husband Dale of Clarion, Iowa, Janet Bartlett and husband Steve of Fort Dodge, Iowa; two brother-in-laws: Wallace Gorder of Iowa Falls, John Geddes of Gunnison, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews. He Was preceded in death by his parents: DeZell and Grace Crabtree; two sisters: Lorraine Gorder and Ellen Geddes; and one brother-in-law: John Miller.

Funeral services for Melvin Crabtree will be 1:00 pm Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, Iowa Falls, with burial to follow at the Alden Cemetery, Alden, Iowa. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 8:00 pm Friday at the Linn's Funeral Homes, Iowa Falls Chapel, with the family present to receive friends between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 pm. Memorials may be directed to the family c/o his wife: Pearl Crabtree, 617 Forest Drive, Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126. The Linn's Funeral Homes Iowa Falls Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Iowa Falls Times-Citizen
March 2003