CROUSE John M. Jack Crouse Jr., age 64 of Grand Rapids and Beaver Island passed away unexpectedly December 10 2008 on Beaver Island. He was preceded in death by his parents John M and Betty Mae Crouse. He is survived by his wife Maureen Abele; his children Geoffrey Crouse of Naples FL Jennifer Crouse of Grand Haven and their mother Mary Jane Crouse of Grand Haven; brother Robert (Sherry) Crouse of LaGrange KY; sister Elizabeth Erickson of Coldwater MI; grandchildren Tristan and Isabella Crouse; also nieces and nephews. A Memorial Gathering of Johns family and friends will be December 15 at OBrien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Chapel 3980 Cascade Rd. Visitation will be 3-6PM. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Little Traverse Conservancy or Beaver Island Historical Society. John was born in the spring of 1944 in Gettysburg Pennsylvania and spent the first years of his life playing on the battlefield. At age seven his family moved to Benton Harbor Michigan. After his school years and marriage John setted in Grand Rapids Michigan with his wife where they had two children and later moved to Grand Haven. In 2003 he remarried. Johns professional background spanned nearly four decades in the visual arts. During that time he worked with many of the nations top photographers film makers printers designers and art directors. His work was recognized for its innovative visual imagery and was regularly featured in design anthologies. He received over 100 national and international awards. John served on the professional advisory board of Ferris State Universitys school of visual arts. He was also a regular monthly contributor to the Grand Haven Tribunes editorial page. After his retirement in 2004 he moved to Beaver Island where he pursued his lifelong passions in history and storytelling. He worked in real estate sales which gave him the chance to walk the island he said reminded him of growing up in Gettysburg and was chairman of the Publications Committee of the Beaver Island Historical Society. Although his work was what he did it is not who he was. His life was his family and friends. He was well loved. He will be greatly missed.
