Kenneth O. Crawford

Born August 9, 1929 in Sand Prairie Township, west of Green Valley to Oliver and Mary (Kramer) Crawford, he married Patricia Jean Spiesz on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953 at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. She preceded him in death on October 27, 2018. Kenny was also preceded in death by his parents; conjoined twin sons, Dennis Eugene and Daniel Bruce; two sisters, Shirley Scogin and Helen Bernshausen and one brother, James R. Crawford.

Surviving are his children, Steven (Teresa) Crawford of Pekin, Karen May of Green Valley, Gregory (Jessie) Crawford of Pekin and Rev. Michael (Rev. Patty) Crawford of Quincy, along with eleven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Kenny served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, serving as a helicopter crew chief.

Kenny was raised on farms and worked for his father until he was drafted. After he was discharged, he rented and farmed a 360 acre farm for six years. His farm sale was on December 7, 1961. He was then hired at the Pekin phone company. In October 1974, he was named the manager of the Staunton, Illinois phone office. In 1978, he quit the phone company. He moved back to Pekin in 1979, after he and Pat purchased the Pekin Christian book store. In 1980, they renamed the store, “The Christ Centered Store”. They owned the store in two locations in downtown Pekin until they sold the store on January 7, 1995. Kenny retired to care for Pat who had PLS, a rare form of ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

In his 80s, Kenny could be seen riding his bike all over the Pekin area. He was a member of the Cincinnati Go Getters Club, also serving as its leader, and Tazewell County Farm Bureau. As a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, he served in United Methodist Men, YAMS Sunday School Class, the Friendship Club and as director of the Alpha course. In 1989 the United Methodist Church conference presented Kenny with the Denman Evangelism Award for his lifestyle of witnessing Jesus Christ. Kenny and Pat coordinated Lay Witness Missions for 25 years, including missions in England and New Zealand. He served for 17 years on the national board of Discover God’s Call, 23 years on the board of the John Wesley Fellowship of Illinois, the Rankin School board, the Staunton Chamber of Commerce and the Pekin Downtown Business Association. He also volunteered at Pekin Hospital. In 1990, he and Pat were named Grand Marshals of the Pekin Winter Wonderland Festival and Parade. In 1992, he received the “Others” award from the Salvation Army.

His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2022 at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. Pastor Eric N. Swanson will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, and also from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com