George R. Croy

George Randolph Croy was born on December 6, 1942, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Floyd Emerson Croy, Sr. and Irene (Maki) (Croy) Kaunisto. He departed this earth on April 15, 2026.

George graduated from Sault Ste. Marie High School in 1961 and enlisted in the Navy. He did his basic training at Great Lakes Naval Station. After training, George and his high school sweetheart, Sharon Smith, were married on May 10, 1962. To that union, three children were born: daughter Kathy and sons Erik and Tony.

The couple lived at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christie, Texas where George served as an aviation electrician mate second class petty officer (AE2). While serving in the Navy, George began taking college credits and earned the equivalent of a year of college by the time he left the Navy in July 1965.

The family returned to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 1965, where George enrolled in Lake Superior State College. He later earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in secondary education from Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

The family moved to Appleton, Wisconsin in 1969 where George began working for the Appleton Area School District. His first teaching assignment was as a biology and American history teacher at Appleton East High School. While there, he created a popular hands-on course titled “The Teaching of American History through Media”. In 1973, George was elected president of the Appleton Education Association. The following year, he accepted the position of Assistant Principal at Roosevelt Junior High. George transferred to Madison Middle School in 1989 and retired July 1999.

On August 12, 1989, George married Nancy (Reese) Croy at the Red Mill Chapel in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Shortly thereafter, the couple moved into their home in Appleton. To this marriage was born a son, Skylar Reese Croy.

While growing up, George *W9MDP discovered ham radio thanks to a kind neighbor, Harvey Ball *W8FYX, who allowed him to use his radio equipment. This hobby enriched his life for the next six decades. One of his many accomplishments was achieving American Radio Relay League DXCC #1 for working every country in the world including North Korea which is extremely rare. He also traveled to Belize in 2005 to participate in a radio competition. He unselfishly gave back to this hobby by helping to start an Amateur Radio Association in December 1993 called NEWDXA (Northeast Wisconsin DX Association). The association continues to this day with over 100 members. As a member of the Fox Cities Amateur Radio Club, he volunteered on weekends for 25 years to administer amateur radio testing to others who desired to partake in the hobby. George estimated that the exam team licensed over 500 northeast Wisconsin amateurs.

George’s other interests included collecting pendulum clocks, ornate glass objects, and American coins. And close to his heart were his Shih-Tzu dogs, Spud, Sammy and Samson.

George is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Floyd Emerson Croy Jr. *K8ZLO of Cedar River, MI. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Reese) Croy of Appleton, WI, and son Skylar Croy *W9USX and granddaughter Harper of Madison, WI. Also surviving are his daughter Kathy Martzahl of Fremont, WI, granddaughter Heather Gall, and great grandsons Lyncoln and Levi of Pine River, WI, and sons Erik Croy of Schaumburg, IL, and Tony Croy and grandsons Tristan and Keaton Croy of Neenah, WI. Other surviving family members include sisters-in-law Pam Croy *K7PAM of Stephenson, MI and Linda Minnehan of Churdan, IA as well as several nieces and nephews, and half-sister Catherine Croy of Huntsville, AL.

A memorial visitation will be held for George from 9-10 AM on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N. Superior St, Appleton, WI 54911 with a memorial service to follow at 10 AM.  George will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.  

The Croy family wishes to thank the staff at Silverstone Memory Care, Moments Hospice, and Wichmann Funeral Homes for their caring, kindness and professionalism.

“W9MDP signing out.”

*Amateur Radio Call Sign