Charles Crane

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.