Delmar E. Crisp

Delmar E. Crisp, April 20, 1919 — March 13, 2017, of Stuart, Fla. Formerly of Tecumseh, Mich.

Delmar (Del) Crisp passed to eternal life on Monday, March 13, 2017. He had been in failing health the past 2-3 years with complications from dementia. He was born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1919, to Clifford H. and Elmina (Ranney) Crisp in Hillsdale, Mich. The family moved to Fayette, Ohio where he graduated high school in 1937. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education teaching in 1943. He earned a Master of Arts degree from University of Michigan.

He taught at Tecumseh High School from 1943-1956 teaching business education, and started a co-op work experience program. He coordinated the community education night school program as well. Many students thanked him for starting them on their career pathway. He was a member of the Tecumseh Rotary Club 1949-1956.

Del and Betty owned Stautzenberger Business School in Toledo, Ohio from 1956-1958. Del was active in Delta Pi Epsilon, professional business education fraternity, serving as president 1967-1968. He taught high school business education in Bloomfield Hills, Oak Park, and Ecorse Public Schools in Michigan.

He married the love of his life Betty J. (Osborne) Crisp on August 19, 1944. Del and Betty were active members of United Methodist Church, Tecumseh, and St. James Methodist Church, Detroit, Mich., where he served as adult education director and president of Methodist Men.

Del was a devoted father to his children. The family took many camping trips to the western USA in the summers. Del and Betty retired in 1978 and moved to Hidden Harbour Estates in Stuart, Fla. Del served on the Hidden Harbour board of directors and participated in many activities of the condominium association. Del served as treasurer of Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel (MARSP) Treasurer Coast Chapter for over 15 years and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from MARSP in Lansing, Mich. in 2000. Service to others included delivering Meals on Wheels for many years and reaching out to many people in their community.

He is predeceased by his parents, his brother, Wayne R. Crisp, and daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who died at birth.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty J. Crisp; daughter, Marjorie Ruth (Ball) (Eugene Jr.) Haas of Hastings Mich.; son, Robert Wayne (Connie) Crisp of Colorado Springs, Colo.;  grandchildren, Andrea (Ball) Schiappacasse, Southgate, Mich., Shannon (Ball) (Don) Perez,  Shelby Township, Mich., Michael Ball, Berkley, Mich., Heather (Haas) West, Parchment, Mich., Rachael Haas, Kalamazoo, Mich.,  Eugene L. (Julie) Haas III., Charlotte, N.C., Robert Brian (Brandi) Crisp of Las Vegas, Nev.  and Lara Crisp, Loveland, Colo.; great-grandchildren Ashley (Anthony) Olivares, Jordan West, Allison West, John Paul Haas, Thomas Perez, Joseph Perez and Thomas Schiappacasse, and one great-great grandson, Lincoln Fitzgerald Olivares;  cousins  Marilyn (Jack) Klang of Suttons Bay, Mich., Marcia (Richard) (Mills) Hansen, San Diego, Calif., Norman Mills, Chico, Calif. and MerriSue (Steven) Spencer–DeWilde, Grand Haven, Mich.

Visitation was Sunday, March 19, from 2-3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Stuart, Fla., followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m.  A social gathering followed at Hidden Harbour Clubhouse.  Cremation took place after the service with ashes to be interred at Oaklawn Cemetery, Hillsdale, Mich., at a later date.

The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to First United Methodist Church, Stuart, Fla., the Kane Center of Martin County www.kanecenter.org,  or Habitat for Humanity of Stuart, Fla.