Janis "Jan" Mae Crouse Obituary (1943

Janis "Jan" Crouse, 74, Hastings, peacefully passed away at her home on October 29, 2017. Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the Hastings United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Family inurnment will be held at a later date in the Hastings Cemetery. Memorials are directed towards Hastings Park Playground Equipment Janis Mae Crouse, one of eight children of Edwin Robert and Irene (Greeno) Ellwanger was born on April 29, 1943 in a log cabin in Butte, Nebraska along the Ponca Creek. Affectionately known as Jannie Mae to her family and very close friends, she graduated from the Butte High School in 1961. Jan worked at the Union Carbide in Red Oak, Iowa and at the Glenwood State School in food service. She substituted for the Hastings area rural mail carriers, when needed, until her eyesight began to fail. Jan and Aaron Frank "Butch" Crouse were married on February 7, 1965 in Butte. The couple made their home in Hastings, Iowa and were blessed with four children, Andy, Jill, Julie, and Nathan, who died in infancy. Jan played various positions in her mixed league slow-pitch softball team. She founded the Hastings Honey Bees 4-H Club and served as leader. Jan was a room mom for her kids while they were in Nishna Valley elementary school. Jan and Butch enjoyed going to the 34 Supper Club with friends. They attended and supported the many Nishna Valley Blackhawks sports and school activities their kids participated in. Jan was an avid Nebraska fan. Jan always had a house or yard full of children, whether they were her own or the neighborhood. She enjoyed watching them shoot hoops or play in the driveway. She probably cut hair and babysat for half the families in Hastings at one time or another. Jan also enjoyed gardening and flowers. She liked making Halloween costumes and was known for her homemade popcorn balls. Jan was a wonderful wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt and a good friend to all who knew her. She was a Proverbs 31 woman. Jan peacefully passed away on October 29, 2017 at her home in Hastings, at the age of 74 years and 6 months. In addition to her infant son Nathan, she was also preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Irene Ellwanger. Jan is survived by her husband of 52 years, Butch Crouse of Hastings; children, Andrew Crouse and wife Justine of Hastings, Jill Eike and husband Dennis of New Hampton, IA, and Julie Crouse and Gail Kruse of Hastings; 10 grandchildren; siblings, Gary Ellwanger and wife Lois of Gretna, NE, Carol "Tootie" Olson and husband Carroll of Atkinson, NE, Dale Ellwanger and wife Dorrinda of Butte, NE, Darol Ellwanger and wife Rebecca of Norfolk, NE, Anita Liewer and husband Merle of Atkinson, NE, Dick Ellwanger and wife Janet of Butte, and Shari Fox and husband Joel of Stanton, NE; many nieces and nephews; other relatives; and a host of friends.