June Ann Crouse (known as Ann), 83, of Indianola, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on June 4, 2025, at her home surrounded by family.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 9 from 9-11 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Milo. Immediately following the visitation, a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Interment will be at the Belmont Cemetery in Milo, Iowa. A luncheon will be held at the funeral home following the services for a time of continued fellowship, and everyone is welcome.
Ann was born June 29, 1941, in Iowa City, Iowa. At the age of 8, she was adopted by Carmen and Helen Kempf and spent her childhood on the family farm in Dawson, with her brother, Bill.
Ann graduated from Dawson High School in 1960.
After high school, Ann attended Graceland University for a short time before entering the workforce. She was particularly talented in the field of accounting and worked in accounts receivable for Fruehauf Trucking and accounts payable for Simpson College.
After her retirement from Simpson College, Ann went back to work part-time at the local Casey’s store, where she was famous for her pizzas with extra toppings. As she put it, “I wanted to make sure they got their money’s worth!”
In 1962 Ann married Donald Lee Birchette, and to this union three children were born, Katherine Ann, Daniel Joseph and William Robert.
In 1977 Ann married Chester “Chet” Albert Crouse Jr. and gained three more children, Allen Bayne, Gearold Joshua and Catherine Marie. That same year, the family settled in Milo.
At the age of 50, after many years of searching, Ann was reunited with her birth siblings and enjoyed getting to know them in the years to come.
Ann was a wonderful cook. She had to be, raising six kids and four of them boys!
She enjoyed quilting, sewing, and crafting and it was not unusual for her to have several projects going at a time. She was also an avid shopper and loved a good craft show.
Later in life, Ann joined the Indianola YMCA and forged many great friendships in her water aerobics class and was able to reach her lifelong goal of learning to swim!
Ann loved animals and had many cherished pets over the years. Once all the kids were out of the house, she and Chet bought an acreage on the edge of Milo, where she was able to have horses. It was, as she said, “a dream come true!” Ann spent many years with her beloved Daisy, Blaze, Freddie and Lady before she and Chet moved to Indianola in 2015.
Remaining to cherish Ann’s memory are her loving husband of 47 years, Chet Crouse; children, Kathy (Juan) Diaz of Harker Heights, Texas, Dan (Angela) Birchette of Hannibal, Missouri, Bill (Kim) Birchette of Milo, Allen (Jolene) Crouse of Ackworth, Iowa, Josh (Nancy) Crouse of Houston and Cathy (Tom Woods) Gagen of Des Moines; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers, Bill (Judy) Kempf of Perry and Charles (Karen) Rohm of Coralville; sister, Ann K. Davis; half-sister, Myrna Venable-Goosey; nieces; nephews; and many friends.
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Carmen and Helen Kempf; four brothers, Larry Rohm, Marvin Rohm, David Carlson and George Kearney; and one sister, Carolyn Rohm.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory may be made to Kiya Koda Humane Society of Indianola or the Milo Volunteer Fire and EMS department.
