Keith M. Crone, 71, of Ashland went home to be with his Lord and Savior early Friday morning, August 16, 2024 after a courageous and hard-fought battle with cancer.
He was born on July 24, 1953 in Ashland the son of the late Eldon and Vera (nee McNaull) Crone.
Keith graduated from Ashland High School, in the Class of 1971. Keith was a Sectional Vice-President for the Ohio FFA and later earned his American Farmer Degree.
He married the former Martha Prosser on March 19, 1977.
For more than 35 years, he and Martha owned and operated their grain and livestock farm in Ashland County. In 2004, Keith earned an Associate’s Degree from The Ohio State University.
He retired in 2018 as a staff manager from Western-Southern Life Insurance Company in Wooster, Ohio after more than 10 years of service. In his retirement years, he worked for 2 years in the USDA Farm Services Agency in Ashland.
Keith served as board member for the Ashland Equity Exchange, was a 4-H advisor for 7 years, and was a devoted member of the Ashland Brethren in Christ Church where he proudly served as a deacon and board secretary.
Throughout his life, Keith’s gentle and meticulous way always shined through his work. He loved collecting antique farm equipment and machinery, but most of all, restoring all kinds of equipment, but was partial to red paint. He was an avid historian who loved to travel with Martha around the country visiting historical places. Keith loved to camp in the great outdoors and make maple syrup from his trees.
He began a letter to his children about his final wishes by saying “Being married and raising a family is the most important part of my life.”
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Mrs. Martha Crone of Ashland; a son, Thomas (Amy) Crone of Harwood, Maryland; a daughter, Mary (Serguei) Romanovski of Estero, Florida; two grandchildren, Caeden Prescott Crone and Zoe Vera Crone of Harwood, Maryland; one sister, Constance Shank of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; two brothers, John (Jaclyn) Crone and Steven (Linda) Crone both of Ashland; a sister-in-law, Ellen Keets of Ashland; a brother-in-law, Bill (Kathy) Prosser of Bradenton, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Keith is preceded in death by his two brothers-in-law, Dr. Jerry Shank and Robert “Bob” Keets.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Ashland Brethren in Christ Church, 2750 Mifflin Avenue, Ashland, Ohio 44805. Interment will follow in the Ashland Dickey Cemetery. Friends may call prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ohio FFA Foundation, 717 E 17th Ave A, Columbus, OH 43211 or to Ashland Brethren in Christ Church.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com