Bill grew up in the Sleepy Eye area and attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse with no electricity or indoor plumbing. After his family relocated to Los Angeles for a few years during World War II, they returned to Sleepy Eye and he ultimately graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School at age 16. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota, where he met the love of his life, Marlys (Marty) Froelich Crouch. They were married in December 1962, and were happily together for nearly 55 years until her passing in 2017. He frequently said she was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Bill graduated from the University of Minnesota with two bachelor’s degrees in engineering, one in metallurgical engineering and one in chemical engineering.
After graduating, Bill and Marty moved to southern California where Bill took a job with Texaco. Their two children, Andrew and Sarah, were born in Los Angeles.
While employed in California, he obtained a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of California – Los Angeles. He became a licensed chemical engineer in California by examination.
In 1979, Bill was transferred to the Texaco corporate headquarters in White Plains, NY where he worked in technology licensing. While with Texaco’s research group he was the author or co-author of more than 30 US patents. He transferred from Texaco to Bechtel Corporation in Houston, TX in 1996. After his retirement in 2003, Bill and Marty split their time between Texas and Minnesota, ultimately settling in Golden Valley.
During his tenure with Texaco and Bechtel, Bill had the opportunity to travel the world on countless occasions, seeing all the places he wished to visit and a lot of others, touching 6 continents. He and Marty were collectors of antiques and other curiosities, a pastime also shared by his children. They enjoyed travel, museums of all sorts, and the Metropolitan Opera. He volunteered as an AARP tax aide for nearly 20 years, helping scores of people prepare their tax returns. Bill was a lifelong learner and an avid reader of all things. He liked to share this passion, often sending family and friends collections of newspaper or magazine clippings he curated especially for them, mailed in envelopes with postage comprised of an equally-thoughtful selection of vintage stamps.
In the midst of COVID, Bill adopted a bonded pair of cats, Holmes and Watson. They were doting and loyal companions throughout their nearly 5 years with him and brought him great joy.
Bill will be remembered as a true gentleman who never forgot where he came from. He was kind and respectful to everyone he encountered and instilled these values in his children. He was a history buff who loved telling stories about his life experiences. He maintained lasting friendships, including ones with childhood pals. And he showed incredible courage and strength over the last 2+ years of health challenges. Bill’s greatest love was his family, and he took great pride in making sure they were well cared for. He was a special man, and we will miss him tremendously.
Bill’s survivors include son Andrew (Dawn) Crouch of Crowley, TX; daughter Sarah Crouch (Mic Johnson) of Golden Valley, MN; granddaughter Jessa Rodriguez; siblings Steve (Karen) Crouch and Linda Sanek; sisters-in-law Betty Engberg and Deb Walth; brothers-in-law Don Froelich and Tracey Walth; and his trusty felines. He was predeceased by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Don McGiffin; sisters-in-law Avis Brandvig and Pat Froelich; and brothers-in-law Roger Engberg, Gerry Brandvig, and Steve Sanek.
The family would like to express special thanks to Bill’s caregivers over the past 18 months, Kathy Garon and Marlene Mosley, as well as the expanded team of Nami, Asha and Nala, for their compassion and support over the past few weeks.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill’s honor may be sent to the Crouch Family Scholarship at the University of Minnesota Foundation; the Minnesota Historical Society; the Animal Humane Society of Minnesota; or the American Cancer Society. A private memorial will be held.