Capt. William Lloyd Crews, 81, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on May 26, 2025, at Sunset Park Place.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. Military Honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post #6 and the United States Marine Corps. William will be honorably laid to rest at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

William was born on August 19, 1943, in Dayton, Ohio, to Jack M. and Elizabeth F. (Green) Crews. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1961. A childhood polio survivor, Dad went on to lead an extraordinary and multifaceted life. Over the years, he worked as an underwater welder, at Central Steel, the Johnson Space Center, for Hess Corporation, and with the United States Postal Service. He had a lifelong passion for working on cars—he loved “turning wrenches”—and was an avid baseball player from his youth into adulthood, even participating in farm leagues.

In 1964, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a paratrooper infantry soldier in Alaska before attending and completing Officer Candidate School in 1965–1966. He then served as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Vietnam’s Ia Drang Valley with the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, where he was wounded in combat (shot twice). During his second tour in Vietnam, he completed flight school and flew L-19/O-1 Bird Dog reconnaissance aircraft.

After leaving the Army in 1973, he returned to active duty in 1977 with the United States Marine Corps. He resigned his commission as a Captain, accepted the rank of Staff Sergeant, and was assigned to the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He completed dive school in San Diego, California, and underwent advanced training in Quantico, Virginia. His military career was cut short after a severe injury during a night parachute training jump, leading to his medical separation.

Throughout his service, he was awarded numerous honors, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with “V” device, Air Medal, Scuba Badge, Navy/Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia, AR AV Badge with three overseas tours, Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, and Rifle Expert Badge.

William is survived by his sons Scott Crews, William “Bill” Crews, and Tim Crews, twelve grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nephew Rob Doe, and niece Abby Doe.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Phyllis Doe.