Megan Crees

Funeral Services: Will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with burial in the Canby Cemetery, rural Fontanelle. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery. Pastor Cathy Nutting will officiate the service.   

Open Visitation: Will be held on Friday at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Fontanelle. 

Memorials: A memorial fund has been set up to the Megan Crees Memorial Fund at FNB Bank, 311 5th Street, Fontanelle, Iowa, 50846.

Megan was born September 19, 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, the fifth of six daughters of Michael John and Dawn Dee (Dobbs) Aalbers. She attended school at Prairie City Monroe Public Schools, graduating from there in 2003. She took joy in being a part of Thespians, choir, and marching band where she played the trumpet and french horn, and was requested often to play for memorial services.

Megan fell in love with Alaska when she joined sister Michelle at Denali Princess Lodge and she developed a passion for being a barista and charming the customers with her laughter. Several years later she brought that passion back home to Iowa where she went to work in the C-store at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. There her charming smile captured the attention of a young Andy Crees who ordered coffee every day needlessly, only to promptly dispose of it just to have reason to visit her multiple times of day! On an icy December day December 29, 2012 they were united in marriage in a gazebo at the Adair County Fair Grounds.

The couple took up residence in rural Casey, IA, opening their own business, Crees Tire and Towing, in Fontanelle where she worked alongside Andy and acted as their accountant and bookkeeper.

Megan’s life was truly full of love for others and that love was fulfilled with the birth of her three sons, Shane Alexander June 7, 2012; Braydon Blaze June 26, 2013; and Braxton Floyd December 3, 2016. She always advocated for her children, not wanting them to ever feel left out. She rarely got a good night’s sleep, nurturing them selflessly all hours of the day and night. Megan never tired of caring for her family, keeping a rigorous schedule of appointments with doctors, therapy, teachers, hospital stays that would astound all who knew her. She was always teaching Braydon new songs and was excited when he would learn new phrases to sing back to her. She wanted to show them the world, taking them everywhere with her and introducing them to family traditions such as Pella Tulip Time, the Iowa State Fair and family camping.

Growing up in a family of eight with six daughters brought another level of family love and adventure to Megan’s life. Never was there a time that she or her siblings remember being anything other than ‘The Aalbers Girls’. As they began to marry and start families, their bond grew stronger through craft nights, Scrabble and cards, Renaissance faires, flea markets, restaurant hopping, the annual cousin’s conference and Christmas gatherings.

Megan’s creative side flowed from music to the arts with her joy of crafting, cross stitch, gift wrapping, drawing, creating paintings, and she was a consultant for Simply Said Creations.

Megan’s Christian faith was very important to her and she dearly loved her Lord. She was a member of the Fontanelle United Methodist Church, was the Christian Education Chair, was a member of the choir, and added to the worship by accompanying with her guitar. She was very active with and played music for Central Iowa Cursillo and was serving on their Secretariat Board. She treasured the Christian community and friendships that blessed her life. All who shared her love for the Lord will miss her sweet voice, laughter, ever-radiant smile and insatiable love of music.

Megan is survived by her husband: Andrew Crees of rural Fontanelle, IA; two sons: Braydon Blaze Crees and Braxton Floyd Crees, both of rural Fontanelle, IA; her parents: Michael and Dawn Aalbers of Vandalia, IA; five sisters: Michelle (Ben) Hiatt of Lehi, UT; Kathy (Ryan) Dee of Indianola, IA; Beth (Javier) Baca of Albuquerque, NM; Brooke (Michael) Olson of Chappell, NE; Kimberly (Drew) Schaefer of Albion, NE; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. As well as her own family, Megan is survived by Andy’s family, which includes: Brian Crees of Des Moines, IA; Kristie Crees of West Des Moines, IA; Amy (Gordon) Badger of Ankeny, IA; Calvin Crees of Des Moines, IA; Kelsey Crees of West Des Moines, IA; Tabitha Crees of West Des Moines, IA; Connor Crees of West Des Moines, IA; Donald Badger of Ankeny, IA; Boe Badger of Ankeny, IA; Melanie Badger of Ankeny, IA; Andy’s grandparents Floyd “Bill” and Jeanette Crees of Casey, IA; and Norma Lemke of Guthrie Center, IA.

She was preceded in death by her son: Shane Alexander Crees; paternal grandparents: Marinus and Magdelene Aalbers; maternal grandparents: Charles and Luella Dobbs; and Andy’s brother: Benjamin Blaze Crees.