Obituary for John Winslow Crooker
Prentiss Twp. – John Winslow Crooker, 75, passed away in the early hours of Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was the son of the late Aubrey Crooker and his late wife Marion.
John was very proud of his service in the Army. He enlisted in 1961 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division, 69th Aviation as a helicopter crew chief. His tour took him to Fort Bragg and Korea. He received a medal for Expert Sharpshooter. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1966.
When on leave he met the love of his life, Madeline Lou Tharp, and she became his wife on May 21st, 1963.
John continued his education to become a Master Machinist. He worked for 8 years at the G. E. Company in Lynn MA designing and manufacturing prototype jet engines. He then moved his family to his childhood home of Prentiss and worked as a machinist and millwright at Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket for 25 years.
He enjoyed the outdoors, was an avid hunter, and loved to fish. His greatest passion though, was working on and restoring vintage John Deere tractors. He completely restored several tractors and won many Blue Ribbons for Best in Show at the Springfield Fair. He developed quite a reputation for his expertise. John Deere enthusiasts from all over the country called him for advice and problem solving…and he always knew the answer.
John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Madeline, and children; son Roland, daughters Angela, Rebecca, Sheila, and Melissa. Also, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at Ross Manor in Bangor for the loving care they provided in the final weeks of John’s life.
Funeral Service will be held Saturday Dec. 15th at 2:00 pm at Lamson Funeral Home, Clay Chapel, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Visiting hours will precede the service from noon to 2:00.
Burial with military honors to be announced at a later date in the Spring.
He was the son of the late Aubrey Crooker and his late wife Marion.
John was very proud of his service in the Army. He enlisted in 1961 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division, 69th Aviation as a helicopter crew chief. His tour took him to Fort Bragg and Korea. He received a medal for Expert Sharpshooter. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1966.
When on leave he met the love of his life, Madeline Lou Tharp, and she became his wife on May 21st, 1963.
John continued his education to become a Master Machinist. He worked for 8 years at the G. E. Company in Lynn MA designing and manufacturing prototype jet engines. He then moved his family to his childhood home of Prentiss and worked as a machinist and millwright at Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket for 25 years.
He enjoyed the outdoors, was an avid hunter, and loved to fish. His greatest passion though, was working on and restoring vintage John Deere tractors. He completely restored several tractors and won many Blue Ribbons for Best in Show at the Springfield Fair. He developed quite a reputation for his expertise. John Deere enthusiasts from all over the country called him for advice and problem solving…and he always knew the answer.
John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Madeline, and children; son Roland, daughters Angela, Rebecca, Sheila, and Melissa. Also, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at Ross Manor in Bangor for the loving care they provided in the final weeks of John’s life.
Funeral Service will be held Saturday Dec. 15th at 2:00 pm at Lamson Funeral Home, Clay Chapel, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. Visiting hours will precede the service from noon to 2:00.
Burial with military honors to be announced at a later date in the Spring.