Francis 'Fritz' Crew OXFORD, Iowa #45;- Francis Howard 'Fritz' Crew, 72, Oxford, died Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City. Services are 3 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at West Branch United Methodist Church, 203 N. Downey St., West Branch. The Rev. Scot Patrick will officiate. Burial will be at the West Branch Cemetery. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Barker Funeral Home, 303 N. Sixth, West Branch. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association or a charity of choice. Mr. Crew was born Jan. 13, 1932, on a farm north of Springdale, the son of Alice Gruwell Crew and Rollo Crew. He married Darlene Boots Nov. 17, 1957, in Cedar Rapids. In his younger days, he enjoyed coon, fox and deer hunting, and fishing all night at his brother's cabin. In older days, he fished with the grandchildren. He thought the most fun was going to grandchildren's sports events - soccer in Dike, basketball and football in Williamsburg and other school events. He and his wife also enjoyed antiquing and he had an extensive collection of knife rests and purple slag. He was a former member of the Masons and a 50-year member of the American Legion. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was proud of an engraved pen and pencil set the men of his company gave him. After being discharged from the Army, he worked with his brothers, Fred and Clarence, at Clarence Crew Construction. In 1962 he began working at Farmers Feed in West Branch with his father and purchased the business in 1965. He was generous to a fault and during the farm crisis in the 1970's many customers ran up bills they couldn't pay. The business closed in 1980. He raised hogs with his son, Kirk, for a few years and in 1995 formed C amp; M Lawn Care with partner Jerry Michel tending several rest areas on Interstates 80 and 380, until being diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2003. Survivors include his wife; two sons, Christopher of rural Norway and Kirk of rural Williamsburg; grandchildren, Vanessa, Tyler Francis, and John, all of Dike, Theresa Von Ahsen and husband, Nathan, of Hinesville, Ga., and Nicole and Jeffrey, both of rural Williamsburg; three sisters, Madeline Espensen and husband, Herb, Betty Slach and Vernetta Ruzek and husband, Burdette, all of West Branch; two brothers, Fred Crew and wife, JoAnne, and Clarence Crew and wife, MaryAnn, all of West Branch; a large extended family; and the mothers of his grandchildren, Valerie Crew of Dike and Carolyn Crew of Williamsburg. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Floyd Allen at age 5; a sister-in-law, Shirley Crew; and a brother-in-law, Richard Slach.