Phillip E. Crass, age 82, of Stryker, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 23, 2013 at Community Hospitals and Wellness Center in Bryan.
He was born in Stoughton, Wisconsin on May 20, 1931, the son of Edgar J. and Edna (McNeil) Crass. On September 1, 1950 he married Emma Joyce Radloff, and she preceded him in death in 2004.
He was a chemist at A. Schulman, Inc. from 1961 – 1999. He was in the Air National Guard and then joined the U.S. Air Force. He went to the University of Wisconsin and was an avid Badger and Green Bay Packer fan. When his wife was alive they enjoyed going to Las Vegas. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Stryker, the Yackee-Strong American Legion Post 60 in Stryker, where he had served as Post Commander, a lifetime member of the Bellevue Elk’s, a member of the Bryan and Montpelier Moose Lodges, the Bryan Amvets, the VFW Post 3360 in Defiance, and the West Unity F & AM. He had been a judge for the Science Fair at the Bellevue Schools. Phillip was very involved in his community. The Boy Scouts were very important to Phillip. At the age of 14 he received his Eagle Scout. He went on to be a Boy Scout Leader. He loved boating, fishing, hunting, gardening and playing black jack. He especially enjoyed going to the Wisconsin – Ohio State games in Madison!
He is survived by two sons, Larry (Kay) Radloff of Stryker, Phillip Crass of Stryker; five daughters, Neva (Ron) Andres of Bellevue, Ohio, Ruth Ann Hammersmith of Defiance, Crystal Crass of West Unity, Terri Groll of Bryan, Janine (Guy) Davie of Decatur, Texas; 12 grandchildren ad 20 great-grandchildren. A cousin of Jimmy Doolittle, he enjoyed attending the Doolittle Raiders Reunions. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Bruce and his twin brother, Roger, son-in-law, Ray Hammersmith and special aunt, Pearl Rogg. Phillip was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Monday, August 26, 2013 at the Grisier Funeral Home in Stryker. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday at the First Lutheran Church in Stryker, with Pastor Mary Beth Smith-Gunn, officiating. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery in Stryker. The family requests that memorial contributions be given to the First Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.grisierfh.com.