James Richard "Ricky" Crawford, 65, of Milwaukee, was taken from us far too soon on February 3, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. Born on January 28, 1960, in Milwaukee, WI, Ricky was the youngest of four brothers and the ninth of ten siblings.

He is now reunited with his beloved parents, James V. and Fern (Schandel) Crawford, as well as his siblings Constance "Connie" (Jim Geary), Kathy "Katie" (Bob Paul), Jerome "Jerry," and Daniel "Danny." Ricky leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories. He is survived by his sons, John, and Robert, and his grandson Jayce.  He will also be deeply missed by his surviving siblings: Terry (Barbara), Linda (Luis Borda), Nancy (Wozniak), Debbra "Debbie" (Terry Tariq), and Julianne (Harris), special thanks to his Dear and loyal friend Lyn Bertanoli who stayed by his side with his family in his final days.

Beyond his immediate family, Ricky was loved by 27 nieces and nephews, 26 great-nieces and nephews, and 7 great-great-nieces and nephews. When we say, "We Are Family," we truly mean it.

A lifelong learner, Ricky pursued many different degrees, but his true passion was music. He was a talented multi-instrumentalist, yet the guitar was his greatest love. A proud Veteran, Ricky served as a Private Second Class in the United States Army and later dedicated his career to serving fellow Veterans, retiring from the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center.

To Our Dear Brother: On behalf of your entire family, we know how much you loved us, just as we loved you. Each time we think of you, we’ll feel you near. When tomorrow starts without you, we won’t be far apart—because every time we think of you, you’ll be right here in our hearts.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the VA Medical Centers in both San Diego, CA and Milwaukee, WI for their compassionate and competent care they provided throughout Ricky’s short battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be announced via Zoom to accommodate family and friends from out of state. In lieu of flowers, it was Ricky’s wish to establish a trust fund for his grandson’s education.