New Hampton ~~~  Elma

"Providing you with peace of mind, comfort, and support."

Words of Comfort for the family

Bruce Crooks, age 37, of Ionia died on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton.

Funeral services will be 10:30 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton with Pastor Kevin Frey and Pastor Joel Dahlen officiating.  Burial will be in New Hampton Cemetery with Jeff Crooks, Pat Gebel, Pat Smith, Leslie Staudt, Joel Forsyth, Bob Byers, Brian Mulcahy and David Eppel serving as casket bearers.  Honorary casket bearers will be the Ionia Fire Department, Class of 1988, the doctors and nurses from New Hampton, Mason City, Iowa City and the bone marrow transplant family.

Visitation will be 3:00-8:00 pm on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home in New Hampton and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Bruce Frederick Crooks was born January 31, 1970 to Larry and Kathy (Berger) Crooks in Waverly, Iowa.  In 1974 Bruce moved with his family from Tripoli to Charles City where he graduated from Charles City High School in 1988.  Bruce attended college and then was employed as a carpenter with RA Crooks Customs of Ionia.  He enjoyed driving school bus part time and delivering wreckers for Zips.  Bruce was united in marriage to Wendy Geerts on May 10, 1997 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Hampton.  Bruce and Wendy made their home in Ionia and have two children Karson and Kara.  Bruce enjoyed playing cards, camping, deer hunting, fishing, NASCAR and spending time with family and friends.

Bruce was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Charles City Elks Lodge and Pheasants Forever.

Memorials may be directed to Bruce’s family.

Bruce is survived by wife Wendy of Ionia; one son Karson Frederick of Ionia; one daughter Kara Marie of Ionia; mother Kathy K Crooks of Charles City; sister Linda Crooks of Rochester, MN.; grandmothers Ida Marie Berger of Nashua and Joanna Geerts of New Hampton; aunts and uncles; father-in-law David Geerts of North Washington; special cousin Richard Crooks; sister and brother-in-law Cindy Rieck and husband Shannon of Ladora, IA; brother-in-law Cory Geerts of Forest City, IA.  He is preceded in death by his father Larry G. Crooks, paternal grandparents Walter and Hattie Crooks, maternal grandfather Frederick Berger, mother-in-law Judy Geerts and his aunt Anna Mae Bergmann.