Encompassed in the loving arms of his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters, brother and family, James Melvin Croak left this earth to meet his Lord and Savior Sunday, February 26th, 2023. He passed away in peaceful beauty, exhaling his last breath as prayers, an Irish toast and lullabies were sung. It was truly meaningful to have him return to St. Luke's Hospital to be cared for by his colleagues of so many years.

Under humble beginnings, Jim was born at home to Leola and Melvin Croak on February 17th, 1942, in Northwood, OH. As the eldest of four, he adeptly paved the way for he and his siblings, Ed Croak (Barbie Lucas), Sandy (Ernie) Molnar, Theresa (Norm) Napierla, to wreak havoc on the corner of Pickle and Coy Roads in Oregon, OH. Balancing academics and mischief, the "Casanova in Khakis" graduated from Clay High School in 1960 with Varsity letters in baseball and basketball. He then proudly became a lifetime Rocket at the University of Toledo and member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Motivated by dreams of buying a car and attending medical school, Jim hustled as a bagboy, night stocker, 3/2 beer snatcher at Kroger, and as a Keebler Cookie truck driver. He entered the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1964 after being inspired at an early age by his friend and mentor, Dr. Donald Billings. Unable to secure tuition on his own, Jim's family's physician, Dr. Zimmerman, graciously underwrote a loan accepting Jim's straight A's in college as proof of his dedication. Within the basement coal-bin apartment of a Hyde Park mansion furnished with only a small desk and old hospital bed and studying by lamplight, Jim tenaciously completed medical school. As a medical student, he served the indigent of Chicago, often risking his own life to perform house calls for the needy in the most dangerous of neighborhoods. He completed his Osteopathic internship at the Doctor's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and his OBGYN residency at both the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and the newly opened University of Toledo Medical College (formerly the Medical College of Ohio). In Detroit, he solidified his love for the music of Motown after being inspired by one of his first patients, the young Aretha Franklin.

In 1973, Jim was proud to become a chief OBGYN resident at St. Vincent's Hospital in Toledo, the first doctor of osteopathic medicine on staff at Toledo Hospital, the first osteopathic OBGYN board certified by the American Medical Association Specialty Board and board certified by the American Osteopathic Association. That year, Dr. Croak began his private practice with physician privileges at St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee, Ohio. While building his practice, he had a special place in his heart for the poor and would often provide medical care for the simple price of a peach pie. After a 33 year career, Jim retired from obstetrics having successfully delivered a total of 3,228 babies including 168 sets of twins and four sets of triplets. He once performed an emergency delivery in his office and ran on foot across a field with the newborn to safely deposit her at the hospital ER. It was commonplace in Toledo for his family to be approached by someone enthusiastically sharing that Jim had delivered their child/children. Jim was a pioneer in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and was credited as the first OBGYN to perform laparoscopy in Toledo, helping thousands of women afflicted with endometriosis to achieve motherhood. Armed with this knowledge, he had the opportunity to teach laparoscopy to many of Toledo's gynecologic and general surgeons. Jim also invented the Croak Ovarian Biopsy Instrument, which is used in procedures today throughout the United States.

In 1966, at a Sunday night mixer in downtown Chicago, he met the love of his life, Patricia J. Bresden. He knew Patty Lou was the one when he realized she was the cover girl on his favorite Platters album, Songs for the Lonely. Married for 54 years, Jim and Pat resided in Toledo, OH where they raised two children, Dr. Andrew (Tracey) Croak and Genevieve Croak (Shawn) Patterson (Houston, TX). He often traveled to regattas at Holy Cross to watch Andy row or to Vanderbilt to see Genny play soccer. Jim was a loyal and dedicated husband, father, brother and uncle. He relished his role as mentor and grandfather to his grandchildren Grady Croak, Rowan Croak, Adair Patterson, and Macklin Patterson. He was their #1 fan, showering them with love, support, and grandfatherly advice (mostly good, some perfectly controversial). He wholeheartedly appreciated and enjoyed his family, extended family, friends, Clay Eagles, Tau Kappa Epsilon brothers, Bucs fans (Ohio St. and Tampa Bay), and the Toledo medical community. If you had a minute to spare, Jim could easily convince you of some of the best things in life: growing Ohio tomatoes, canning McQueen's apples, sunset cruises as the "Mayor" on The Quarry, and the glory of riding in a Tesla. If you were lucky enough, you may have caught a flash of silver hair with a convertible top down. And if you were brave enough, you were his wingman on a warm summer day.

To say "Jim lived life fully" is a gross understatement. The man was on fire. Grass did not grow under his feet. Travelling the world, jumping into every and all wild adventures, his lust for life was contagious and inspirational to all those that knew him.

Ornery, yet unwaveringly generous. Firm in his beliefs, yet always compassionate towards the underdog. He was proud of his origins and was grateful for the blessings of his medical career and his personal life. He championed an independent spirit in medicine by fighting for his patients amidst the challenges of the modern medical system. He and Pat had a special place in their hearts for the plight of the Native American and utilized their large and impressive collection of Southwest art to further philanthropic causes in support of this heritage.

We will always know St. Luke's Hospital by its original name, and wish to thank all of the medical professionals that compassionately cared for Jim during his difficult but brief decline. The tenderness and pride exhibited by all who cared for him is what makes St. Luke's so special to us, and our community. A special thanks to Dr. Richard Paat, whose constancy and dedication both day and night helped to provide reassurance in our time of need.

Please join Jim's family and those who have passed before him, including his parents, grandparents and friends, in celebrating his extraordinary, accomplished and exciting life. Visitation services will be held on Friday, March 3 2023 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home 440 S. Coy Road, Oregon, Ohio 43616. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, March 4th 2023 at 12:00 p.m. at the Historic Church of St. Patrick 130 Avondale Ave. Toledo, Ohio 43614. He will be laid to rest at Lake Township Cemetery immediately following by automobile processional. Alternative expressions of sympathy can be made via a donation to the Preservation Society of Historic St. Patrick's Church stpatshistoric.org.