Funeral services for Donald Crewse, Age 87 of Mountain Grove, MO will be at 2PM on Saturday, July 26th, 2025 at The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove, Missouri. Visitation will precede the service starting at 1PM. Burial will take place in the Union Chapel Cemetery in Graff, Missouri.
Donald D. Crewse was born February 26, 1938, in Huggins, Missouri, the sixth child of Hobert and Dollie (Greenlee) Crewse. He entered the arms of Jesus on July 10, 2025, at the age of 87 years, 4 months, and 14 days.
Donald grew up in the Graff community, and attended the Crewse School and Union Chapel Church. On September 13, 1958, he met the love of his life, Darlene Magnuson, while meeting up with friends at the Number One Church in Huggins. It was a stormy night, with lots of rain and mud, but the two created an inseparable bond that night that lasted nearly 65 years. Donald and Darlene were married on September 27, 1960, in Mountain Grove, in the home of Bus Postlewaite. They were always together, and their love for one another was evident to all who knew them. They were a pair in every sense, sharing their lives side by side. They truly exemplified for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, and in sickness and in health.
Following their marriage, Donald entered the US Army from 1960 to 1962 and remained in the Army Reserve until 1967. He was honorably discharged after seven years of courageous service to his country. After basic training, he was stationed in Louisiana, Greenland, and Alaska during the Cold War. While in Alaska, he lived in isolated mountain barracks, which were caves carved into the terrain near missile sites.
Before Donald got his auto body repair business started, he worked several jobs, including hauling wrecked cars from St. Louis for Jon Coddington’s salvage yard at Cabool and driving a cement truck for Peterson’s Redi-Mix in Mountain Grove. He also worked as a mechanic and auto body repairman for his brother-in-law, Art Raschko, who owned a shop located where McDonald’s now stands in Mountain Grove. It was there he learned the craft that would become his legacy.
Donald and Darlene’s first home was a small trailer on Donald’s parents’ land in the Graff Community. The couple lived briefly in New Orleans in 1962 while Donald was in the military. In 1963, they purchased a home and 54 acres next to his parents’ property from Bennie Jemes. They remained there until the present day, interrupted only by building a new home in 1980 next to the original house.
At that location, Donald and his brother, Leonard, began an auto body repair and mechanic shop. In the early 1970s, they split the business and Donald took over the auto body repair side. He continued rebuilding wrecked vehicles for the next 40-some years under his business name, Don Crewse Auto Sales. He built a reputation for honesty and quality, but most importantly, he built lasting relationships with friends, neighbors, and family.
Donald and Leonard were not only brothers, but lifelong best friends and neighbors. Their families did nearly everything together; from summer vacations out west, to camping near Beaver Creek, swap meets at Petit Jean Mountain and the Rolla Airport, hiking at Paddy Creek, family get-togethers, birthday parties, car shows and auctions at Springfield and Roby, and most of all, attending church together at Union Chapel Church. Donald and Leonard’s families were intertwined, and in the eyes of Donald’s nephews, he was the most amazing person. To them, he was a pillar to aspire to; a role model for character. Young men are blessed to have one good earthly father. Donald’s nephews were lucky enough to have two.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents and eight siblings: Franklin, Elsie, Cledith, Pauline, Geraldine, Leonard, Carlene, and Francis.
He is survived by his loving wife, Darlene; sisters, Norma (Charles) Horton and June (Bill) Keplar; and many beloved nieces and nephews, each of whom held a special place in his heart.
Proverbs 22:1 says: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”
Cars, conversations, and perfectly timed jokes were Donald’s specialties. He was a man of quick wit, and a more kind and compassionate man has never existed. He left behind a good name and memories which will be cherished for years to come. He will be greatly missed, but we will remember his love and loyalty for family, honesty, integrity, a strong work ethic, and most importantly, a godly heritage.
