Josiah Daniel Crouse, 29, died Friday, August 19, 2011, in Hampton, Virginia.

Josiah was born February 1, 1982, in Des Moines, Iowa. Josiah and his family moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota in 1992 just in time to begin his 6th grade at Spearfish Middle School. Josh graduated from Sturgis Brown High School in 2000. He attended one year at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology before pursuing his career in the United States Air Force. Josh spent four years stationed in Germany at Ramstein Air Base, where he met his wife, Amanda. They were both transferred to Langley Air Force Base in 2009. Josiah retired from the Air Force as a Sergeant in December of 2010.

Josh loved water and snow skiing, skydiving, photography, cooking, traveling, and astounding others with his computer skills. He will always be remembered for his quick wit, dry sense of humor, and his heart of gold.

Josiah is survived by his wife, Amanda, Hampton, VA; his cherished children: daughter, Mikayla Rose, and son, Ean Michael; parents, Dan Crouse, Black Hawk, and Heidi and Troy Nelson, Sturgis; sister, Jennifer (Jason) Burtz, Ohio; sister, Lindsey (Roy) Ulrich, Rapid City; step-brother, Tyler (Lydia) Nelson, Minnesota; and step-sister, Haley Nelson, Yankton. Other survivors include his grandparents, William & Karen Crouse, Iowa, Tom & Faye Carey, Iowa, Colleen Hammond, Sturgis, and Jerry & Trisha Blair, Hot Springs; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Josiah was preceded in death by his grandfather, Maurice Hammond; step-grandfather, Larry Nelson; his uncle, Stephen Hammond; and great-grandparents.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, August 26, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Denzel Nonhof officiating. Inurnment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis.

A college education fund has been established for Mikayla and Ean in lieu of flowers.