Ivan E. Crutcher

Ivan Edward Crutcher of Tower Hill, IL, passed away on September 5, 2025, at Decatur Memorial Hospital. He was 95.

Ivan was born in Decatur, IL on October 30, 1929, to Charles Dewey Crutcher and Ruth (Cutler) Crutcher. He was the second born of their three sons and lived on the family farm until 1948.

He met the love of his life, Carolyn Herten, when they were 17 and 15 and married on June 18, 1950, shortly after Carolyn turned 18. They were married 75 years. Their daughter Kimberly was born in 1957, and their son Marshall was born in 1961.

Ivan was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950 during the Korean War. He served two years as a Corporal while stationed in Austria with NATO forces. Many years later he had the opportunity to tour the armed forces memorials in Washington D.C. through the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight on May 12, 2015. It was an experience he never forgot and spoke of often.

Upon returning from the Army, he worked at the Signal Depot in Decatur. He went into the gas station business and drove a bus for the Tower Hill School system before starting a car and auto body repair business. Ivan owned and operated Crutcher Auto Sales and Service in Tower Hill for 52 years until he retired at the age of 84 in 2013.

He was a member of the Tower Hill United Methodist Church until its closure in 2019, then becoming a member of the Pana United Methodist Church. He belonged to the Pana Elks, Shelbyville V.F.W., and the Shelbyville American Legion. He was a lifetime NASCAR and Cardinal baseball fan attending many games in the original Busch Stadium. He enjoyed camping with family and friends while the family was young, and later he and Carolyn attended a variety of festivals and celebrations around the state as well as numerous trips to Branson for their favorite shows. His greatest joy was having time with his family.

Ivan is survived by his daughter, Kimberly (Jay) McCracken of Ottawa, IL, son, Marshall (Sherri) Crutcher of St. Louis, MO, two grandchildren: Megan (Brian) Rolfs of Normal, IL, Grant Crutcher of St. Louis, MO, and two great-grandsons: Gavin and Aiden Rolfs of Normal as well as two nieces and four nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Ralph and Elden “Charlie” Crutcher, sisters-in-law, Norma (Crutcher) Huddleston and Rita Kelley, and most recently, his beloved wife Carolyn, who passed on July 11, 2025.

Visitation will be on Friday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m., one hour before 11:00 a.m. funeral services at Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville, Illinois. Burial will be in the Tower Hill Cemetery with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville is in charge of arrangements.