Mark E. Crooks

Mark E. Crooks, age 72 of Clyde, OH, passed away Thursday, February 20, 2025, at ProMedica Memorial Hospital in Fremont, OH. Mark was born March 3, 1952, in Quincy, IL, the son of the late Robert “Buzz” and Doris J. (Higley) Crooks. 

Mark worked for Whirlpool Corporation from the time he was 18 years old until he retired in 2008. He was a Maintenance Supervisor for some of his career and also worked in skilled trades. During his time at Whirlpool, he worked hard and took as much overtime as he could. He didn’t talk to his family much about the incredible projects he accomplished at work, aside from curious things like installing a coffee maker, television and toaster in his toolbox. However, there were countless stories about pranks such as painting a sleeping coworker’s nails, throwing fireworks over the bathroom stalls, and dropping buckets of water from the rafters on unsuspecting coworkers. He enjoyed the people he worked with and the work that he did.

Despite working hard, often six or seven days a week, Mark still found time to enjoy his hobbies. He loved a good project and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t build or fix. All it took was one phone call from family or friends and he’d stop everything to help, thrilled to have “somethin’ to do,” as he fondly called it. He loved being out on his boat in the middle of Lake Erie either fishing or just cruising around. He had his favorite spot for perch fishing out past Cedar Point.  Mark also spent hours tending to his garden, but the Rutgers tomatoes were his favorite. 

His true joy was spending time with his family.  At family gatherings, he loved to play cards, pass the ace, and ping pong. He simply enjoyed being with loved ones, talking and telling stories. Over the years, he attended hundreds of volleyball games, soccer games, tennis matches, basketball games, and cross country meets to cheer on his kids and grandkids. He was certain that whichever of his daughters or grandkids were playing, that was the best player on the team. After retirement, Mark and Jan enjoyed traveling all over the United States with his siblings. His favorite trip was a tour of Costa Rica with the love of his life, Jan. 

Mark is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Janice (Patton) Crooks, whom he married November 24, 1972, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Clyde; daughters: Abbey (Seilesh) Crooks-Babu of Novi, MI, Erin (Rick) Crooks-Martin of Blacklick, OH, and Lauren (Christopher) Parriott of Findlay, OH; grandchildren: Samuel Crooks, Kavan, Kethan, Karun, and Kareena Babu, and Owen and Simon Parriott; brothers: Timothy (Marie) Crooks of Clyde, and Pete (Sandy) Crooks of Green Springs, OH; and sisters: Susie Crooks-Dixon of Vermilion, OH, and Rebecca Crooks-Endres of Ft. Thomas, KY.

In addition to his parents, Mark is preceded in death by his sister, Lucy Sandoval.

Friends will be received on Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 1:00pm until a memorial service beginning at 3:00pm at Foos Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 504 E. McPherson Hwy, Clyde, OH 43410.

Memorial Donations can be made to Heartland Hospice.

Memories and condolences may be shared online at foosfuneral.com