James Crum

James W. “Buck” Crum, 87, Wausau, WI, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 under Hospice care at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. James was a veteran of the United States Air Corp during WWII, and was in the South Pacific. He was an airplane mechanic. After WWII he came home and married Rose D. Zimmerman on Nov. 23, 1942 in Wausau, WI at Zion Lutheran Church. James worked at Marathon Electric, Drott, and Iron Works. They later moved to Glidden, WI, and started farming there. In 1958 they adopted a son Glenn, in 1960 they adopted a son David and in 1962 they adopted a daughter Deborah. In 1964 they moved the family to Athens, WI and started a farm there. Later on James worked at Hammer Blow in Stratford, and then ran the grader for the town of Halsey and retired. They moved to Wausau after retirement. James then worked for the City of Wausau for 12 years as a Crossing Guard until the age of 82.


James was very active in the Monarch Lions Club. He loved hunting and camping with his family, bowling and woodworking. James was an avid member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Wausau. His wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were his life, he would do anything for them. He will be sadly missed by his family.


James is survived by his wife, Rose (Zimmerman) Crum; son, David Crum; daughter, Deborah Crum; and daughter-in-law, JoAnn Crum; 5 grandchildren, Sara Crum Faber (Troy), Travis Thurs (Nicole McKinley), Erin Crum (Chad Borchardt), Renee Crum (Scott Krautkramer) and Casey Crum; 5 great-granchildren, Kyle Thurs, Gracie Faber, Landon Thurs, Chloe Faber and Owen Hanson. James is also survived by a brother, Elmer Crum, and sister, Ona Zimmerman.


He was preceded in death by his son, Glenn Crum, brothers and sisters.


Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday November 12, 2009 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Wausau. Officiating will be the Reverend Bruce Lamont. Burial will be in Central Wisconsin Veteran’s Cemetery, King, Wi. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Helke Funeral Home, Wausau, and Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church.