Joseph E. Crum, 82, of Van Wert, died at 6:40 a.m., Saturday at the CHP Inpatient Hospice Center. He was born on September 13, 1932, in Maltoa, Ohio, with son of the late Edward Raymond and Hazel (Davidson) Crum. On May 16, 1952, he married the former Doris Jean Mantz who preceded him in death on May 20, 2011. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Jean. Family survivors include two daughters, Cindy (Doug) Stemen of Wapakoneta, and Sue (Charles) Wheeler of Elida; four sons, Joe Crum, Jr. of Upton, KY, Mike Crum of Fairborn, OH, Ed (Judi) Crum of Dayton, and Gary Crumof Cincinnati; four sisters, Betty Storms, Ellen Stanly, Norma Gipson , and Evey Murkerson; seventeen grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Joe retired in 1994 from Fountainview Center, Van Wert as a substance abuse counselor. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War having received the Bronze Star, Bronze Star with Valor, and the Korean Service Medal. He retired as a Staff Sergeant from the United States Army Reserve in 1994. He was a member of Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #5803, Van Wert. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home with Pastor Ron Johnson officiating. Interment will follow at Van Wert Woodland Cemetery where military rites will be conducted by the combined Honor Guard of the Veteran of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Posts of Van Wert. Calling hours are 11 a.m. until time of service on Tuesday. Preferred memorials are to the Salvation Army Food Bank.