Bradley “Brad” Neal Crawford
Bradley “Brad” Neal Crawford, 67, of Winamac, passed away at 2:50 a.m., on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at his home in Winamac. Brad was born on Dec. 13, 1955, to John and Florence Crawford in Logansport. On May 30, 2021, he married his best friend, Beth, in a small chapel on a beloved fishing lake in northern Minnesota.
Brad was a 1974 graduate of Winamac Community High School and afterwards attended Franklin College, ultimately attending and graduating from the Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1982. He was an accomplished athlete in both high school and college. While at Franklin College, Brad was part of the track & field and football teams. He earned numerous awards and continues to hold several records. He was an All-American football player and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Nevertheless, he stood out as the epitome of humility, a man one was honored to encounter. Brad’s ultimate dream, however, was to return to his hometown to pursue his profession of general dentistry and enjoy his passion for hunting and fishing.
Brad was an avid outdoorsman and frequently enjoyed fishing locally on Lake Maxinkuckee. In recent years, he and Beth also enjoyed spending time on several lakes in northern Minnesota. He was an accomplished fisherman and loved catching walleye, perch, and bluegill. Despite Brad’s numerous accomplishments, his greatest pride and joy was his baby, Kelsey. His role as a father was the one which gave him the most joy, and he often spoke of how proud he was of the young woman that Kelsey had become. Brad was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend and will be deeply missed.
Survivors include daughter Florence “Kelsey” Crawford; wife Beth Ruff-Crawford; brother Keven Crawford, of Winamac; sister Tina [Steve] Knebel, of Winamac; Beth’s sons: Jake [Jenna] Ruff, of Rochester and Josh [Hayley] Ruff, of Fishers; grandson Calvin Abraham Ruff, of Fishers; mother-in-law Barbara Halleck, of Winamac; brother-in-law Tom [Tammy] Halleck, of Star City; sisters-in-law: Jennifer [Dan] Knebel, of Winamac and Cyndi [Joe] Garnett, of Westfield; as well as numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents: John and Florence Crawford; and father-in-law Thomas Halleck, Sr.
A Mass of Christian Burial was at 10 a.m., Friday, May 26, at St. Peters Catholic Church in Winamac.
Visitation was from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 25, at the church.
Burial was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery West in Pulaski.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Lake Maxinkuckee Environmental Fund, PO Box 187, Culver, Indiana 46511.
Brad’s online guestbook and condolences can be shared with the family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.
(Pulaski County Journal — May 31, 2023)