Bill T. Crane

William Tyra Crane was born January 6, 1934, the son of Leslie and Helen Crane. He passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at his home in Vail, Iowa, at the age of eighty-one.
Bill was born in Vail, Iowa and received his education in the Vail Community School and graduated from the Manning High School in Manning, Iowa 1952. He served in the ARMY 1953 – 1954 during the Korean War. After leaving the service he worked in trucking driving and managing trucking companies and later became the owner of Cherokee Trucking Company. On March 27, 1957, Bill was united in marriage to Marilyn Wingrove at the St. Ann Rectory in Vail by Father Clark. The couple lived in numerous areas and returned to Vail Iowa in 1982. Marilyn passed away April 16, 1999. In April 2003, Bill later married Darlene Niehaus and they made their home in Vail.
Bill loved working with horses and participated in over one hundred parades with his team and wagon. He also loved visiting the Amish where he would relive his childhood would always purchase their Blackberry Jelly. In his leisure time he enjoyed watching all Western movies, especially those staring John Wayne. He loved his Rat Terrier Dogs, Jake, Mouse and Louie. He was a very hard worker and would have given the shirt-off-of- his-back for anyone in need.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn in 1999; daughter, Leslie in 2008; and one granddaughter, Paige in 1996. Survivors include his wife Darlene; one daughter, Kathryn and her husband, Ron; two sons, Joe; and Michael his wife, Myrna; step-children, Bob and his wife, Pat; Rod and his wife, Deana; Mary and her husband, Bob; 4 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren; many other relatives and friends.