Nov. 5, 1929 – Aug. 25, 2010

John Earl "Jack" "Doc" Crawley died Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010, at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital of pulmonary fibrosis. He died as he lived – surrounded by love.

Doc was born Nov. 5, 1929, to Eleanor (Wilton) and Earl H. Crawley in Ashland. He graduated from East Troy High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Iowa State University.

Doc was a member of the ROTC at Iowa State. He served in the Air Force in Savannah, Ga., and for many years in the Air Force Reserve. He retired with the rank of major.

Upon completion of his Air Force active duty, Doc moved to Palmyra to begin his veterinary practice, which spanned over 50 years. His "COW DOC" license plates were a familiar and welcome site to farmers in three counties, and he cared for innumerable family pets from the clinic behind his house.

Doc loved Palmyra, and he put his heart and soul into making the community a better place to live and raise a family. He was a member of the Palmyra-Eagle School Board for nine years, including serving as president. He was an active member of Kiwanis for more than 40 years, and loved his involvement in providing Christmas baskets for families, and with their sponsored youth programs. He was a leader in working to help young people avoid alcohol and other drug abuse, and he helped establish the first AODA program at PEHS. He was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and served on the parish council on multiple occasions.

Doc loved his family, and anyone who ever spoke to him was well aware of that. He is survived by his wife of nearly 57 years, Olive; his children, Kevin (finance Yvonne Bitticks-Maruniak), Kathleen (Timothy Dybevik), Ellen (Mark Thorn), Sara (Steve Poser), Colleen (Doug Schell), Dennis (Jane Pacheco), Ann (Jeff Gerner) and Patrick (Kerry Odell); and 16 adoring grandchildren, Andrew, Robin and Joseph Dybevik, Elizabeth, Kathleen and Hannah Thorn, Samuel and Gabriel Poser, Lauren and Patrick Schell, Gavin and Kierra Crawley and Liam and Emmett Crawley. He is further survived by his brother, Gerald Crawley, who was also his partner in veterinary medicine and friend for his entire life; his brothers-inlaw, Patrick and Larry Curtin; and his sisters-inlaw, Mary Curtin, Dana Crawley and Carol Anchor.

He is preceded by his parents; his daughter-inlaw, Diana Paulina; and many brothers and sistersin-law.

Doc loved to fish – in addition to special trips with his brother Jerry and fishing buddies, he enjoyed many hours of fishing at the Castle Rock and Pettenwell lakes with very special family and friends. Doc loved to play cards, and was a longtime member of the Dirty Old Men’s Poker and Spannferkel Society. The group provided more than good company and cards. They also raised funds for many causes in the Palmyra-Eagle School District, including athletic field lights and band uniforms.

Doc loved his trombone music. He was a proud member of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, and in his later years a very active member of the Palmyra Community Band. He was an inveterate story teller, and he had a joke for every occasion. Doc said he had three goals in life: to be a veterinarian, to marry a beautiful woman and raise a good family. He lived a long and happy life and endured his more recent health challenges with courage and grace in anticipation of his journey to heaven.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital for their care of Doc and his family during the last several days of his life, as well as to the Rev. Jay Poster for his spiritual and moral support.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at Mealy’s Funeral Home, 320 Main St., Palmyra. Visitation continues from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian burial Monday, Aug. 30, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 919 W. Main St., Palmyra.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Doc’s name may be made to the Palmyra-Eagle School District Memorial Foundation, St. Mary’s Catholic Church or the Fairhaven Foundation.

For the online obituary and guest registry, go to www.hdlfuneralhomes.com. Mealy’s Funeral Home in Palmyra, 495-2127, is assisting the family.