Charles 'Charlie' Crews Jr.

Charles 'Charlie' Crew Jr., age 95, of Staples, MN passed away on January 11, 2026 in Staples.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday January 16, 2026 at 11:00am at United Methodist Church in Staples. There will be a visitation held beginning one hour prior to the start of the service at the church on Friday. Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls following the service.

Charles “Charlie” Warren Crews, Jr was born September 27, 1930, to Helen (Jamison) Crews in Charlottle, North Carolina. Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday, with the consent of his mother, in Augusta, GA. Charlie traveled the world on the USS Greenwich Bay (AVP-41). Charlie served 22 years in the Navy. While in the Navy Charlie met his wife Pat and were married on February 20, 1954, in Alameda California. When Charlie retired from the U.S. Navy he went to work for 3M. He worked for 3M for 17 years and ended his career as a division national sales manager. He also helped develop the national service center for 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota.

After his 3M retirement he and Pat moved to Sylvan Shores near Staples, MN. Charlie could not stay retired long. He started Service Technology, teaching start-up companies how to service their product. Charlie also brought computer technology to Todd County. He installed computers at businesses and trained them on how to use them. He set up computer training programs for seniors under the Healthy Communities Partnership for 3 years through the Initiative Foundation.

Charlie was very involved with his church (Staples United Methodist Church). During that time, he was certified lay speaker and would preach at the assisted living and Care Center in Staples. He was also a member of the Minnesota Annual Conference of the Methodist Church for 10 years.

Charlie is survived by his son William “Bill” (Terri) Crews of Bemidji, MN, granddaughter Chelsea (Alex) Patterson; great-granddaughter’s Rae Crews and Nina Patterson. He was preceded in death by his wife Beatrice “Pat” Crews, daughter Teresa Crews, his mother Helen Crews, and sister’s Helen Owens and Dorthy Staples.

Donations can be sent to:

TCCA-Teresa’s Stash

Verna Toenyan

22994 190th St

Long Prairie, MN 56347