Crane, Charles W.

CRANE, SARTAIN

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/26/2013 at 23:50:45

Charles W. Crane, 83, passed away Oct. 18, 2012. A Celebration of Life was held
Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Clear Lake Community Room at the Band Shell.

Charles was born, Feb. 2, 1929 to Harold and Verda Crane in Clear Lake, Iowa.
Charles graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1947. After graduating from
high school he attended the University of Iowa until he enlisted in the Air
Force. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 – 1954. After
the war, he graduated from Simpson College with a Business Administration
Degree.

Charles worked as Vice President of the Savings and Loan Association in Clear
Lake with his father. He was the owner of Crane Insurance in Clear Lake, was a
real estate broker, and a partner in developing the Harborage in Clear Lake.
Charles was a long time member of the Clear Lake Rotary and Clear Lake Yacht
Club. Sailboat racing and iceboating were Charlie’s favorite hobbies. Charlie’s
life suddenly changed Dec. 14, 1975 while iceboating on Clear Lake. He suffered
a traumatic brain injury that prompted an early retirement at the age of 46
years old. Charlie lived an independent life with his son until 2005 when he
moved to Wesley Acres in Des Moines, Iowa.

In 1955, Charles married Mary Jane Sartain in Birmingham, Ala. This union
produced two children, Charles B. Crane and Elizabeth A. Crane.
Survivors include son, Charles Bennett Crane of Clear Lake and daughter,
Elizabeth A. Vriezelaar Horn (Darrell) of West Des Moines, Iowa; two
granddaughters, Alissa B. Vriezelaar of Chicago, Ill. and Abby A. Vriezelaar of
West Des Moines; sister, Dorothy A. Brown of Des Moines; niece, Sandy Skat (Al)
of Elmhurst, Ill.; nephews, Chuck Brown of St. Charles, Mo. and Bob B. Brown
(Mary) of St. Charles.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Verda Crane;
brother-in-law, Robert B. Brown; son-in-law, Craig E. Vriezelaar; and ex- wife,
Mary Jane Crane.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Wesley Acres Good Samaritan
Fund.