Lester N. Crain

CRAIN, CONRAD, VOSHELL, MISHLER, JOHNSON

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 12/15/2010 at 21:44:15

SOURCE: Postville,Iowa HERALD October 2, 1985
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Joint funeral services for Lester and Lila Crain were held Monday, September 30, 1985 at the Clermont Community Center, Clermont, Iowa. Services were led by Henry Wahls, Paul Elliott, Leonard DeBuhr and John Slabaugh. Muehlethaler's Funeral Home of Elgin, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.

Clermont Couple Killed
CLERMONT: An elderly Clermont couple was killed in an automobile accident near here early Friday evening.
Dead on arrival at Palmer Memorial Hospital, West Union, were Lester Crain, 74, and Lyla (sic) Crain, 70.
The Crains had been traveling west on highway 18 when their 1979 Ford Pinto collided head-on with a 1972 Chevrolet pickup being driven east by Mark Tracy, 23, of Tripoli. The accident took place 4 miles west of here at 7:25 p.m.
Tracy was taken to Palmer Memorial Hospital and then transferred to University Hospitals in Iowa City. He suffered multiple fractures. He was traveling alone; Lester Crain was driving the other automobile and his wife was the only passenger in it.
The Iowa Highway patrol said both vehicles ended up in the eastbound lane of the highway. They reported Monday that no cause of the accident had been determined, that it was still under investigation, and that no charges had been made.
Each vehicle was declared a total loss and each was valued at $1000.
(Crain obituary page 5.)
Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, hand dated 1985, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.

Lester Nelson Crain, son of Ernest and Grace (Conrad) Crain was born November 23, 1910 in Fayette County, Iowa. He married Leta Voshell on August 22, 1929. They had five children: Harold Crain, West Union, Iowa, Ivan Crain, Capac, Michigan, Lucille (Mrs. Duane Mishler) Harlingen, Texas, Linda (Mrs. Robert Johnson) Clermont, Iowa, and Merlin Crain of Cresco, Iowa. They farmed in Fayette County near Elgin, Iowa.

Lester is survived by his five children, 23 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Leta on October 23, 1963, a sister, Edith Crain and two grandsons, Robert Henry Johnson,Jr. and David Crain.

Lester and Lila (Gruver) Barnhouse were married on July 17, 1969.

Honorary Casket bearers were Bill Nutting and Gene Nutting. Casket bearers were: Vernal Walvatne, Jim Nutting, Willard Peck, Darrell Walvatne, Dale Walvatne, and George Walvatne. Interment was in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, West Union, Iowa.

Note: The newspaper obituary clipping DOES NOT list the date of deaths for Lester and Lila Crain. I believe they were killed in a car accident between West Union, Iowa and Clermont, Iowa on US Highway 18.