John Alyn Crawford

John Alyn Crawford, age 87, formally of Fairfield passed away April 8, 2013 at Solon Care Center, Solon, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 am, Friday, April 12, 2013 at Behner Funeral Home, Fairfield, Iowa with Pastor Stacy Grau officiating. Burial with military rites will be at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa.

Visitation for family and friends will be 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday, April 11 at Behner Funeral Home.
Memorials can be made to 1st Lutheran Church, University of Iowa Foundation or Mercy Hospital Foundation.

Cards and Memorials can be sent to Phil Lundquist, 910 Elizabeth Court, Mt Pleasant, MI 48858

John Crawford was born June 7, 1925, the son of Byron C. Crawford and Mabel Elizabeth Lundquist Crawford in Fairfield, Iowa.

John proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He attended Signal School in San Diego, before being transferred as a signalman to Pearl Harbor, to serve on the USS Gambier Bay. The USS Gambier Bay was deployed in the South Pacific. In 1944, John’s ship and four other U.S. Ships met up with the Japanese Fleet in Laite Gulf. The five U.S. Ships were sunk within two hours, leaving 3000 men in the water. They floated for 45 hours before being rescued. John served the rest of his Navy time in Bremerton, Washington.

Upon returning to Iowa, John attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation, he lived in Chicago nine years where he was employed by Chicago Title and Trust, as well as Advanced Mortgage Corporation.

He returned to Iowa City in 1960 to take a position as an accountant in the University of Iowa Business Office. He retired from there in 1988.

John’s philanthropic nature was well known to his family, friends and the community. He supported Mercy Hospital Foundation, establishing the Crawford Cancer Teaching Conference, which meets weekly and helps to assist oncologists with cancer treatment decisions. He has also been a great supporter and friend to the University of Iowa Foundation, the Iowa City Public Library, and the Lutheran Church in Fairfield, Iowa.

John is survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews, a sister-in-law: Mrs. Joyce Cathey of Davenport, IA and many close friends.

John was predeceased by his parents and Mr. and Mrs. Louis J Schmitt from Nichols, Iowa.