The Life of MARSHALL ERNEST CROSSWHITE
Marshall Crosswhite, 90, passed away on April 5, 2016 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines. Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 12 p.m. with visitation one hour prior (11 a.m.). Family and friends are encouraged to remain after the service for a reception and fellowship.
Marshall was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on September 2, 1925, and moved to Iowa as a young child with his family, living on farms in Clarke and Adair Counties in the 1930’s. He grew up with his mother and father, Grace and Marshall, as well as his sister, Elizabeth and brothers, Bill and John, all of whom are predeceased. After graduating from Richland High School in 1943, Marshall was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in World War II as part of Patton’s Third Army in the 87th Infantry Division. His memoir, One Hundred Fifty Days in Harms’ Way, recounted the reality of war during the Battle of the Bulge as his Battalion fought its way from Metz, France to Koblenz, Germany. Marshall returned to Des Moines after his discharge from the service and married Shirley Ann Ritchhart of Orient, Iowa on November 28, 1947.
Shirley and Marshall were married for 68 years, raised two sons, Frank and Joe, and lived in Des Moines for the entire time. In addition to his wife and children, Marshall is survived by four grandchildren, Luke, Faye, Amelia, and Annelise; and four great-grandchildren; a fifth grandchild, Matthew, predeceased him. Marshall worked in various sales roles and at the Postal Service during his career. Yet, his passion for independence led him back to farming in his 40’s and 50’s. His ‘Ponderosa’ straddled the Madison County line west of Winterset and was a source of enjoyment and hard work up through the 1990’s. A gifted artist, Marshall was a life-long painter of stunning landscapes, hobbled not by the fact that he was color blind. He loved the Impressionists and despised Post Modernism. Marshall always had time for family, friends, and neighbors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Altoona Public Library, 700 8th Street SW, Altoona, Iowa, 50009.
Marshall was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on September 2, 1925, and moved to Iowa as a young child with his family, living on farms in Clarke and Adair Counties in the 1930’s. He grew up with his mother and father, Grace and Marshall, as well as his sister, Elizabeth and brothers, Bill and John, all of whom are predeceased. After graduating from Richland High School in 1943, Marshall was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in World War II as part of Patton’s Third Army in the 87th Infantry Division. His memoir, One Hundred Fifty Days in Harms’ Way, recounted the reality of war during the Battle of the Bulge as his Battalion fought its way from Metz, France to Koblenz, Germany. Marshall returned to Des Moines after his discharge from the service and married Shirley Ann Ritchhart of Orient, Iowa on November 28, 1947.
Shirley and Marshall were married for 68 years, raised two sons, Frank and Joe, and lived in Des Moines for the entire time. In addition to his wife and children, Marshall is survived by four grandchildren, Luke, Faye, Amelia, and Annelise; and four great-grandchildren; a fifth grandchild, Matthew, predeceased him. Marshall worked in various sales roles and at the Postal Service during his career. Yet, his passion for independence led him back to farming in his 40’s and 50’s. His ‘Ponderosa’ straddled the Madison County line west of Winterset and was a source of enjoyment and hard work up through the 1990’s. A gifted artist, Marshall was a life-long painter of stunning landscapes, hobbled not by the fact that he was color blind. He loved the Impressionists and despised Post Modernism. Marshall always had time for family, friends, and neighbors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Altoona Public Library, 700 8th Street SW, Altoona, Iowa, 50009.
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World War II
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Army
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