Obituaries

Eva E. "Ernie" Crosby

PORTAGE/MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA - Eva “Ernie” Crosby, 94, of Portage, formerly of Marshalltown, Iowa died Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena.
Eva Ernestine Crosby was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 21, 1918 to Ned and Eva (Quam) Downing. Ernie grew up in Marshalltown where she graduated from Marshalltown High School with the class of 1936 and Marshalltown Junior College in 1938. Ernie married former Marshalltown Mayor, William “Bill” Crosby on April 13, 1941. This union was blessed with three children. Bill and Ernie enjoyed their time together in Marshalltown and at their treasured cottage on Union Grove Lake. Bill and Ernie purchased their dream lake lot in 1946 for $40 and paid 99 cents in real estate taxes that year! Together with their wonderful lake friends, Bill and Ernie built their cottage themselves.
Following Bill’s death on May 9, 1971, Ernie continued to live in Marshalltown and wintered in Hawaii for 19 winters. In recent years Ernie has lived in the care of her daughter, Ellen, in Portage. For the last two years, Ernie was a resident at the Columbia Health Care Center. While in Marshalltown, Ernie was active in Theta Chi.
Left to cherish Ernie's memory are her children: daughter Ellen Crosby (Gordon) Benson, of Portage, Wisconsin, sons: Bill Crosby, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Joe (Julie Eichorn) Crosby, of Austin, Texas; 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; sister; Cecile Ann Norton, and nieces, friends and caregivers.
Ernie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill; brother-in law; Dick Norton, grandparents and many other loved ones.
Ernie's family wishes to thank all of the Caregivers at Columbia Health Care Center for the exceptional loving care and comfort.
Private memorial services were held. The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home, in Portage, Wisconsin is assisting the family. Ernie will be laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery near her beloved husband, Bill. For condolences, please email her family at RememberErnie@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)