Born March 11, 1953, Rod was the first child of Verl and Hilda (Piatt) Crouse, and brother to Terry and Curtis. Born in Des Moines, he spent his childhood in Urbandale, then moved to Nevada during his high school years. Rod was an all-around athlete and played many sports including football, basketball, track & field, and most excelled at baseball. Into adulthood, he continued playing in Ames and Nevada softball leagues.

He studied at the Des Moines Area Community College, then worked in various technical positions for telephone services. Through the years, Rod worked in offices out of Des Moines, Marshalltown, and Ames. He retired from Century Link after 39 years of service in the industry.

On November 25, 1978, Rod married Lois Naber in Carroll, Iowa. Their union made three children, Andrea, Steven, and Brian Crouse, with whom Rod most enjoyed celebrating birthdays and Christmases, theme park vacations in Florida, lake time in Okoboji, and coaching and cheering along his kids' various sports teams.

Rod was a handyman - he personally built the additions to his acreage home of 44 years outside of Ames, where he particularly enjoyed watching unobstructed sunsets from the backyard.

Rod's hobbies became great passions. As a young adult, he got his private pilot's license in Ames and was a member of the local aviation club, the Silent Knights. Eventually he bought his own 2-seater vintage prop airplane, which he would fly over Ames and to fly-ins at various airports around Iowa. He often towed gliders as a volunteer for the Silent Knights, and offered free flights to children as part of the Young Eagles program. Rod was a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and never missed the annual convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he frequently entered his plane in the Vintage Aircraft Association's exhibition, and later volunteered with the group.

Rod was a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and enjoyed traveling to Iowa City with family for the home football games. During baseball season, he was often to be found watching the Saint Louis Cardinals on TV whenever he got the chance.

In later years, Rod fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in Florida, where he and Lois spent their winters. In the retirement community of The Villages, he enjoyed getting around the complex on his golf cart, and soaking in the sun on the front porch, where neighbors would regularly stop by for a chat. He opened his home to family and friends that would often stay with them for short visits.

Rod immensely enjoyed being a grandfather and relished the moments when his grandchildren would visit the house, happily watching them play or watching movies or YouTube with them. He was a generous gift-giver, and he especially loved shopping for his grandkids.

Rod is survived by his wife Lois; children Andrea Crouse (Roland Zwicker), Steven Crouse, Brian (Sarah) Crouse; stepmother Phyllis Crouse; siblings Terry (Ken) Graner, Curtis (Kris) Crouse. He leaves behind 4 grandchildren, Thomas and Romy Zwicker, Beau and Emma Crouse. He was preceded in death by his parents; father- and mother-in-law, Myron and Bernice Naber; and stepsister Brenda Lorenz-Smith.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association of Iowa or Florida, or to Saint Cecilia Catholic Church.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (1418 Fawcett Pkwy) in Nevada. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 18, 2022, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church (2400 Hoover Avenue) in Ames. Burial will be at the Ames Municipal Cemetery in Ames. The vigil service will be livestreamed on Thursday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. can be viewed by going to www.rasmussonfh.com and clicking on Rod's photo then tribute wall.  Additionally, the funeral service will be livestreamed on Friday, November 17 at 10:30 a.m. and can be viewed by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKbmORej-Vk

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association of Iowa or Florida or St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Donations can be made directly at: http://webia.alsa.org/goto/2022RodneyCrouse

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.rasmussonfh.com