Thursday, Jan. 9, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
F.C. "Fritz" Crisler, a Henderson constable for 24 years and a longtime civic leader who helped mold the futures of area youths by instilling in them a strong sense of duty, has died. He was 86.
Crisler, a retired Titanium Metals Corp. mechanical foreman who was the brother of late longtime Henderson Police Chief George Crisler, died Tuesday at his home. He had been ill since suffering a stroke about two years ago, friends said.
Services for the 45-year Henderson resident will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary-Henderson. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Memory Gardens in Las Vegas.
Crisler, past chairman and longtime official with the Boys State Program, an annual government-education event for high-achieving high school boys, served as Henderson Township constable from 1966-90.
"Fritz was so friendly and so visible in the community that he hardly had to campaign when he ran for re-election -- I don't ever recall seeing a campaign sign out there," said former longtime Henderson Mayor Lorna Kesterson.
"When they gave the annual (Americanism) awards at Burkholder (Junior High School), Fritz was always there to hand them out. He had such a great interest in youth activities."
Kathy Cardwell, office services manager for the Henderson Justice Court, got her start in local government work 25 years ago by serving as a part-time clerk for Crisler.
"I can't say enough wonderful things about the man -- he took such joy in the work he did for the Boy Scouts, Boys Club and, especially Boys State," she said. "Fritz got such a kick when his boys from Boys State did well, and for many years followed their careers."
One of those Boys State alumni was Henderson Justice of the Peace Rodney Burr, who was governor of Boys State his junior year at Basic High School in 1975.
"In whatever Fritz did, whether it was with Boys State, the American Legion or his service in the military, he had a tremendous sense of duty," Burr said.
"He took his job seriously and felt that he was serving his community and his country the best he could. He always got the job done."
Crisler was long involved with the Boy Scouts of America. He was appointed first district commissioner of Boulder Dam Area scouts in 1953 and also founded the first Sea Scout unit in Henderson.
Crisler was past commander of American Legion Post 40 in Henderson, where he was instrumental in helping acquire an out-patient hospital in Henderson.
Born May 31, 1910, in St. Paul, Minn., Crisler enlisted in the Navy upon graduation from St. Paul Vocational School.
He graduated from the Naval Engineering Academy and saw combat action in the North Atlantic, European, Mediterranean and Pacific theaters during World War II.
Crisler moved to Henderson in 1951 where he was employed by Timet until his retirement on Oct. 28, 1971.
He was first elected constable on Nov. 8, 1966, and was re-elected five times. A lifetime member of the Nevada Constables Association, Crisler was a past president of the organization.
Cardwell remembered how her boss showed great compassion even when his duties as constable required evicting people from their homes by court order.
"He would give people the addresses of homeless shelters and helped others find homes," Cardwell said.
"I can't prove it, but I had my suspicions that on some occasions he even reached into his own pocket and gave some of them a few dollars to help out."
Crisler was a charter member of the Henderson police reserves, serving five years with that group.
Crisler's civic accomplishments include being a charter member of the Henderson Boys Club and chairman of American Legion Baseball.
He was a member of VFW Post 3848, Nevada Veterans Association, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 39, Scottish Rite Bodies of Las Vegas, Zelzah Shrine Temple and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
Crisler is survived by his wife, Marie Crisler, of Henderson; a son, Glenn Crisler of Elko; three daughters, Kathleen Chinn of Henderson, Joan Stark of Roseville, Minn., and Marguerite "Peggy" Carson of Goodyear, Ariz.; eight grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
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