D. Elaine Crouse

Elaine Crouse, 79, of Marshalltown, passed away on Monday, March 19, 2018 at Southridge Specialty Care in Marshalltown. She died much like she lived, quietly with the peace of God in her heart and soul.           Elaine was born April 20th, 1938, in rural Rhodes to Stephen and Lillian Freland. She graduated as salutatorian from Rhodes High School in 1955 and Marshalltown Junior College in 1957. On January 1, 1959, Elaine was united in marriage to Ronald Crouse in Rhodes. Elaine was a homemaker for most of her life, raising four children on an acreage south of Marshalltown, which the family moved to in 1966. During her many years of country life, Elaine was an avid gardener and baker for the Farmer’s Market in Market in Marshalltown, which her husband, Ron, managed for several years. During her days as the greatest baker she became well-known for her cinnamon rolls, fresh baked pies and delicious cookies. Yet, the highlight of her Elaine’s life was her family and close friends. She was blessed to be able to spend the last few months of her life on earth with her best friend, Deanna Bailey, as her roommate at Southridge, whom she had known for almost 70 years. Elaine, or “Lanie” was never one to shy away from hard work, mowing two acres every week with a push mower and then traveling to Rhodes to mow her mother’s two acres. Elaine also loved to read and spend time with her cats, inside and outside, often spending more money on cat food than food for herself. Elaine was also a woman of God and saw to it her children grew up knowing God and the love of Jesus. Her children are surely blessed to have had a mother that exemplified hard work and a profound faith in God.          Elaine will truly be missed by her son, Lowell (Jackie) of Maxwell; her daughter Shelley Gilgen of Marshalltown; her son, Lenny (Kim) of Peosta; and her son Shawn (Melissa) of West Des Moines; nine grandchildren, Justin Crouse (Katie), Jake Crouse (Macy), Lanie Stutz (Brian), Rebecca Gilgen, Luke Crouse, Lindsay (Spencer) Nelson, Karley Crouse, Olivia Crouse, and Cooper Crouse; as well as four great grandchildren, Nora Crouse, Oscar Crouse, Preslee Nelson and Lincoln Nelson; and her sister, Martha Yantis of State Center. Elaine loved her family dearly and was proud of each and every one of them. They were the reasons she fought so hard to live. She was especially honored when her oldest granddaughter, Lanie, was named after her.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald; brother James Freland; and her parents Lillian and Stephen Freland.     Visitation will be held at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown from 6-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 22nd. A celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Proceeding the service she will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in Marshalltown. Memorials may be directed to her family.