Kevin P. Crooks

Kevin Patrick Crooks, age 67, passed peacefully on July 18, 2026, held in the loving arms of his family. In his time on this earth, Kevin left no stone unturned in steadfast pursuit of a full and meaningful life, filled with dedication to family, chasing joys and passions, heart, good humor, and a quiet, gentle way of leading by example.

Born on July 13, 1959, to Patrick and Rita (Lepinski) Crooks, in Wausau, Wisconsin, Kevin first learned to navigate this world by finding his place as one of six siblings: the quiet one, the fastest one, the adventurous one, the prepared one. Kevin treasured his path to earning the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout, which instilled the integrity and values that he carried with him throughout his life.

Kevin graduated from Wausau East High School in 1977, then earned degrees in Business and German at the University of St. Thomas. He earned his law degree from Marquette University Law School in 1984.

That same year, on August 4, 1984, Kevin married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Renee Lynn Berens. Renee and Kevin’s love for each other was deep, enduring, and rooted in their shared faith. They spent their 42 years together reinforcing their unwavering commitment to one another through all life’s joys and challenges, intentionally creating a lifetime of beautiful memories. Every step of the way, they remained each other’s steady hand, greatest blessing, and closest friend.

Kevin and Renee’s greatest shared pride on this journey was their two children, Peter and Elizabeth, and their three cherished grandchildren, Alice, Leo, and Josephine. Of all the names Kevin was called, “Dad” and “Opa” were his favorites. Kevin immersed himself wholeheartedly in these roles, whether in the thick of it as their coach or cheering them on from the sidelines, never missing one of their activities. Kevin’s love of history, nature, and adventure inspired their family travels, instilling in his children a lifelong appreciation for exploring the world. His greatest joy was time spent with his family.

All the while, Kevin was working as a third-generation lawyer, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, great-uncle, and father. Kevin was a lifelong scholar who enjoyed the challenges of finding solutions to problems through the legal system, practicing family law with a passion and integrity that was well-known and respected in the legal community. Kevin retired in 2022 after 38 years as an attorney, finding comfort in knowing he was leaving his family’s legacy—Crooks Law Firm—in good hands. He ended his time at the firm the way he started it: with the rare honor of working alongside family, as his daughter had joined the firm staff, adding a spark of light to each day.

There is no question that in the space in-between, Kevin lived with intention: filling his time with never-ending pursuit of knowledge and following his passions. He was a tinkerer, a fun-loving spirit, a storyteller, a maker, and a helper. His interest in downhill skiing led him to 24 years of service with the Granite Peak Ski Patrol, proudly alongside his son in later years. He served his community on various boards. He enjoyed traveling, kayaking, hunting, playing piano, and spending time at the Train with “the guys.” He loved meals and outings with friends. He subscribed to a magazine written in German to keep his fluency sharp. He recently embarked on two thrilling motorcycle trips through the European mountains which turned out to be highlights of his life. He was a self-taught stone mason whose work was reflective of an old-world master. He was the kind of person who would become curious about planes, join a flying club to learn more, and take lessons, with the goal of becoming a pilot. There was no “halfway” with Kevin.

As a young man, Kevin developed a deep interest in woodworking, which remained throughout his life. Kevin’s interest in woodworking was a perfect reflection of his personality: he kept an orderly workshop, prepared with all the tools he might need; he shared his heart by working alongside friends and family on projects big and small; and he valued quality craftsmanship. His workshop was adorned with the quote “By the work one knows the workman” (Jean de La Fontaine). By Kevin’s life, we know the kind of person he was.

Making good use of Kevin’s hard-earned skills, Kevin and Renee built their “farm” where they spent some of their happiest days. Kevin could often be found atop his tractor, a look of glee on his face, as he created a network of roads through the woods and around the ponds. There was nothing Kevin enjoyed more than sharing the land with his wife, children, and grandchildren; picking apples in the orchard, giving tractor rides, and foraging the woods. The Farm provided quiet time but also became the family’s favorite gathering place. It quickly became the site for Kevin to host his brothers and friends for deer camp and craft camp weekends. Every path, bird, animal, tree, pond, quiet morning, and starry night sky on that farm holds his spirit.

Kevin’s family and friends will always be thankful for the ways Kevin shared his zest for life. He will be remembered for living his life to the fullest, using all of his God-given gifts, and surrounding himself with all he held most dear - his family, friends, adventure and nature. His memory can be honored by: learning to tell a good story, pursuing a curiosity, mastering a craft, finding a favorite part of the woods, or gathering with loved ones and sharing a laugh.

Kevin’s memory will forever be the foundation upon which his family stands. Kevin is survived by his beloved wife, Renee, his children, Peter (Rachel) Crooks, and Elizabeth Crooks; his grandchildren, Alice Crooks, Leo Crooks and Josephine Crooks; his mother, Rita Crooks; his siblings and their families: Mike (Fritz) Crooks, Ann Crooks (Stu Stanek), Brian Crooks, Dan (Lynn) Crooks; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Theresa Berens, Renee’s siblings and their families: Roger (Carol) Berens, Wayne (Norma) Berens, Cindy (Steve) Clancey, Rose (Steve Vollenweider) Hoffman, Karen (Nolan) Rusch, Sharon (Rich) Sandquist, and Gloria (Sheldon) Schlicht.

He is preceded in death by his father, Patrick Crooks, his brother, Stevie Crooks, and his father-in-law, Gerald Berens.

The memorial service will be celebrated on Friday August 21, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 611 Stark Street, Wausau. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service, all at church, Rev. Tom Lindner will preside. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of Kevin P. Crooks to:

Friends of Rib Mountain State Park, 149801 State Park Rd, Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 680-9480 email: info@ribmountain.org https:www.ribmountain.org

Marathon County Historical Society, 410 McIndoe St. Wausau, WI 54403 (715) 842-5750   https://www.marathoncountyhistory.org/donations

St. Michael Catholic Church, 611 Stark Street, Wausau, WI 54403 (715) 842-4283  Eastside Parishes – Saint Michael Parish & Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ  https://eastsideparishes.org/wausau/