Robert Lee Crouse

1964 - 2025

Robert Lee Crouse

January 3, 1964 - May 5, 2025

Robert Lee Crouse, 61, was born on 1/3/64 in Omaha, NE, and died on 5/5/25 in Phoenix, AZ.

Bob grew up in District 66 and attended Oakdale, Valley View Jr. High, and Westside. He played football for Dan Young and wore #73 and earned All-Metro honors as a tackle for the 1981 State Champion Warriors. Bob had a lot of titles in his life, but probably the greatest one he held was "loyal friend." Bob enjoyed his early years playing sandlot football on 102nd Street, cheering on a friend "roller skiing" down 101st Street, and sliding around in the S Canoe. His childhood friends Matt, DJ, Troy, Rodger, Jeff, Johnny, & Steve remained lifelong friends. In college as freshmen, they were reprimanded for tearing down basketball hoops in the neighborhood during a winter break. After being caught and confronted by the group of parents that told them this behavior was acceptable for freshmen in high school, not college, Bob quipped, "But we couldn't jump that high back then."

We think caller ID may have been invented because of Bob's frequent prank phone calls in high school. Teachers, fellow students, friends, and local sports stars were all called during his famous pranks. Bob had a passion for music and would dissect The Beatles, The Stones, The Beach Boys, or Elvis on rides to school.

Bob graduated from UNL in 1986 and was a proud member of Sigma Chi. He spent 30 + years as a Phoenix resident and had a long business and sales career, beginning with SnoBlowers Inc. and Grace Properties and finishing with the Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau. He probably holds the record for the number of times as a groomsman. His charming character and hilarious sense of humor, along with his loyalty, made him a natural fit.

Bob enjoyed hosting friends for lunch at Goldie's in AZ, eating focaccias, and retelling stories. We know he arrived precisely on time in Heaven because, on earth, that is what he demanded of himself. He would often arrive early and in the most efficient way to anything he was attending. We are sure he's enjoying a banana-chocolate malt from Goodrich and getting in a "good bench press." He loved dogs; he loved Nebraska football.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Larry, and is survived by his Mother Rose, sister Lori; and brother, Mark.

Bob lived sober his last 11 years on earth, believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord & Savior, and always thought Nebraska football had a chance to win on Saturdays. Bob's childhood friendships, formed during a period of shared innocence and vulnerability, were irreplaceable. For most of us, those relationships fade into adulthood. Bob was such a great friend to all of us, and that never happened to him. He will be missed dearly by all of us. He was a great man. RIP, friend.