William “Bill” P. Crom, 80, of Fort Madison, IA, passed away at 1:58 p.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at his home. He was born on June 25, 1938 in Washington, IA to Sherman “Luther” & Icle E. Nelson Crom. He owned & operated Bill’s Towing in Fort Madison for more than 45 years.
CROMHe married Elaine D. Sincox on April 7, 1961 in Apple 
River, IL. They later divorced. He then married Leatha M. Hayes on November 5, 1973 in Fort Madison, IA. She preceded him in death on March 10, 2017. He served in the U.S. Army and attended the Nazarene Church in Montrose, IA. He was the past president of Towing & Recovery Professionals of Iowa and was an Explorer Scout in the Boy Scouts when he was young. He loved racing, fishing, hunting and going to his Army reunions. He loved everybody and never knew a stranger. A stranger or a customer was simply a friend he hadn’t met yet.
Bill is survived by: 2-daughters: Paula (Robert) Myers & Beverly (Terry) Strah both of New London, IA; 1-step daughter: Sandy (Stan) Pfingsten of Fort Madison, IA; 4-step sons: John (Sheila) Gray of Missouri, Ron (Mary) Gray of Fort Madison, IA, Jim Gray of Burlington, IA & David Gray of Arkansas; “the boy”: Jeremy (Kayla) Enke of West Point, IA; many grandchildren, several great grandchildren and a few great great grandchildren; 2-sisters: Myrtle “Sally” (Wayne) Reighard of Washington, IA & Ruth (Ray) Meth of Olds, IA and 1-brother: John Crom of Mason City, IA. To Bill, family is love and he loved all his family. He was preceded in death by: his parents, a step father: Wallace, his wife, 1-step daughter: Shirley & 1-brother: Don.
Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 31, 2019 with the family to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 1, 2019 at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. Preston Smith officiating. Burial will be held at Soldiers’ Circle in Oakland Cemetery with military rites performed by the Fort Madison Veterans Honor Guard. A memorial has been established in Bill’s memory. Online condolences and a video tribute of Bills life may be viewed at www.kinglynk.com.
