Burt Lee Crecelius died peacefully on March 27, 2019, in The Woodlands, Texas at the age of 83.

Burt is survived by Fern, his loving wife of 62 years; sons Jeff of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Eric (Nancy) of The Woodlands; brother Allan (Shirley) of Newburgh, Indiana; and seven nieces and nephews and their spouses and children in Indiana, Virginia, and Texas.

Burt was born October 31, 1935, in Winslow, Indiana to Hulett and Virginia (Minnis) Crecelius. He had a deep love of his country and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a young man, and in mid-life served many years as a Sergeant in the Army Reserve.

He graduated from Oakland City College and obtained a Masters Degree in Education from Indiana State University.

He married the former Fern Yvonne Corn on June 25, 1956, in Oakland City, Indiana. Burt and Fern started their family and lived in Pike County and Boonville, Indiana before returning to Oakland City in 1967. After retirement, they lived in Bartow, Florida for several years before moving to The Woodlands, TX, near Houston.

Burt was an elementary school teacher at several schools outside Evansville, Indiana, including Winslow, Boonville, Yankeetown and finally for three decades at Oakland City. As a scholar of American history, he loved teaching that subject most of all. He enjoyed seeing his former students progressing through their lives, and stayed in touch with many of them over the years.

As a young man, Burt planted thousands of tree seedlings on land reclamation projects for the coal mines around southwest Indiana, a pursuit that continued on the family’s land in Gibson County, transforming acres of scrubby pastures into a beautiful woods. On summer breaks from teaching, he was an expert housepainter, having painted dozens of houses and country churches around Oakland City. An avid outdoorsman, Burt loved hunting, fishing, antique firearms, canoeing, primitive camping, and revolutionary war reenactments and was a member of Sons of the American Revolution. He was a motorcycle enthusiast throughout his life and took many long trips around the country on his BMW. In more recent years he spent many weeks with the Texas Border Volunteers. Never satisfied with “just one” hobby, he pursued varied interests in amateur radios, radio-controlled model airplanes, old coins, and Native American artifacts, just to mention a few. A music lover, especially of Dixieland and jazz, he also played the clarinet and saxophone. He enjoyed assembling things from kits, from antique gun replicas to canoes; culminating in a multi-year project of a 2-seater convertible sports car he built at home. He passed along his love of the outdoors and many other of his interests to his sons. He always encouraged them to pursue their goals and was extremely proud of their careers in the airline industry.

A celebration of his life is scheduled for 1PM on April 4 at The Woodlands First Baptist Church (11801 Grogan’s Mill Rd. The Woodlands TX). All are welcome to attend and celebrate Burt’s life. An additional memorial will be held for family and friends in Oakland City, Indiana at a later date. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to The Woodlands First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank Oasis Hospice and Park Manor skilled nursing facility for their care and dedication.