As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
Laurium resident David Crowley died on January 25, 2025 surrounded by loved ones following a struggle with cancer.
David was born on September 8, 1951 at Calumet Public Hospital to Edward and Helen (Bach) Crowley. He attended kindergarten at Morrison School and 1st through 8th grade at Sacred Heart Catholic School, then graduated from Calumet High School with the class of 1969. During high school he took part in many school activities including ROTC, acting as Battalion Executive Officer his senior year.
After school he joined the National Guard, becoming Commander of Company A, 107th Engineer Battalion before transferring to the Individual Ready Reserve where he attained the rank of Major and earned the Meritorious Service Award.
In March of 1971 he became a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He was appointed Postmaster of Copper City in 1983, Mohawk in 1988, and Lake Linden in 1990 where he worked until retirement in 2006. During his tenure he received two Special Achievement Awards and a Certificate of Appreciation, and served many terms on boards of various postal workers’ organizations.
In his “retirement” he worked for Shopko until its closure in 2019, and delivered flowers for Kathy’s Country Flowers.
In 1968, while working as a lighting technician at the Keweenaw Playhouse, he was bitten by the “theater bug”—a disease from which there is no cure. His experience led him to design and run lighting for countless local shows over the years, and appear in dozens of community theater productions. Since 1981 he was active in the Calumet Players both on- and offstage, appearing in lead roles for numerous musicals and in supporting and directorial roles for many others, including several fundraising musical revues. In 2021 he directed and acted in his original play, “The Walls Have Eyes,” with the Players.
In 2007 he was hired as Play Director for Houghton-Portage Twp Schools, where he directed 22 high school and 25 middle school plays and was awarded the Copper Country Association of School Boards’ School Service Award. He also served as Drama Club director for Hancock Schools.
His early interest in theater led to fifty-five years volunteering at The Calumet Theatre and seventeen years as a member of the Theatre’s Board of Directors, serving at times in positions of President and Secretary. In 2009 he was awarded the Helen Baratono Volunteer Award.
In 1990 he added “movie extra” to his list of acting credits, appearing as a zombie in Children of the Night, a horror movie filmed partly in Calumet in which you can briefly see a closeup of his mottled face as he shambles by the camera. His “fame” became a running family joke whenever the movie was mentioned.
In addition to his interest in theater he was also a poet and writer, publishing two books of poetry, three children’s books, and his novels “The Secret of St. Christopher’s Girls School” and “The Christmas Prayer”. He enjoyed writing stories with surprise endings, including a number of unpublished short horror stories.
He was involved in far too many community organizations and activities to comprehensively list, including the Knights of Columbus, Ira Penberthy Post 61, the American Legion, 8 years on the CLK School Board, and decades on numerous school reunion committees. He served as Chairman for major recurring events like the Bridgefest and Pastyfest Parades and Fall Festival at St. Paul the Apostle Church. He was also a member of the Calumet Elks Club, where he served as Exalted Ruler, cooked for many parties and stag dinners, and won three trophies at District Ritual Competitions.
Among his proudest achievements was his 28 years volunteering with Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, cooking at holiday dinners and monthly parties. In January 2024 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the U.P. branch.
He was a gifted singer, performing Ave Maria at innumerable funerals throughout the area. In 2006 he was the featured soloist at the TOPS Club State Convention at the Lakeview Arena in Marquette with approximately 1000 people in attendance.
He was proud to be a blood donor, and was only three pints short of receiving his 5-gallon pin.
He enjoyed cooking and baking and was well known for both, especially his lasagna, prime rib, spaghetti sauce, garlic bread, and chocolate chip cookies. His popcorn, known as ‘Dave corn’ at the Houghton Schools, was called by many people the best in the world. He also enjoyed making a variety of hors d’oeuvres for his annual Christmas party and family get-togethers.
His favorite holidays were Halloween and Christmas. His Halloween costumes always provided memorable fun (or fear) for the trick-or-treaters, and his house at Christmas became a wonderland with every room (including the bathroom) adorned with more and more decorations every year.
In an attempt to explain his view of life he came up with this motto of sorts: “If God didn’t want us to help each other he’d have only made one of us at a time.”
He married Janice Munch on May 12, 1973; they divorced in 1980. He married Shelly Grose on October 31, 1981 and they divorced in 1997.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Ellen Panijan, and his step-father Ernie Castonguay.
He is survived by his children Megan (Ben) Oburn of Fairborn, OH, Josh (Ali Cooper) Crowley of Nutley, NJ, and Mallory (Bryan) Wagner of New Allouez, MI, his sisters Cecelia (Jim) Sanders of Yorkville, IL, Kathy Andel of Marquette, MI, his brother Michael Crowley of Milwaukee, WI, his step-brother Ernie Castonguay of Sterling Heights, MI, his grandchildren Noah and Samuel Lingerfelt, Alexis Wagner, Marcella and Aeliana Cooper-Crowley, and step-grandsons Aiden and Brantlee Oburn, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Mike Panijan (Marilyn) and his former wife Shelly Kobe and her husband Bill and his sons Brendan and Quinn.
There will be a visitation for David held at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home on Thursday January 30, 2025 from 3:00-7:00pm, with a prayer service to follow at 7:00pm. On Friday January 31, 2025 a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Calumet, Michigan at 11:00am. Burial will take place in the spring at Eagle Harbor cemetery.
David requested colorful attire be worn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
