Obituary Record

Gordon P., Jr. Crannell
Died on 11/21/2008

published in Pilot-Tribune, 11/25/2008

GORDON P. CRANNELL, JR., 65

Gordon P. Carnnell, Jr., 65, of Diller, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Center in Wymore, following a yearlong battle with cancer.

Funeral services are 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the Zion Lutheran Church in rural Harbine. A family prayer service will be at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Interment will be at the Prairie Home Cemetery in rural Diller.

Gordon Pearl “Butch” Crannell Jr. was born Dec. 25, 1942, in Omaha to Gordon P. and Ellen (Bowden) Crannell Sr.

He was born while his mother lived with her parents while his father was serving in the Army during World War II.

After the war, the family lived near Tekamah, and he attended Tekamah High School until 1960, when he dropped out to go to work. He received his GED in 1994.

During his life, he held many jobs, including mechanic, truck driver, construction worker, custom farmer, gas station operator and body shop frame machine operator.

He also served as the Diller city utility superintendent for 16 years. He served on the Diller Fire and Rescue Squad for more than 30 years and was chief for 27 years.

He was married three times; first, to Linda Reinert. The couple had three daughters. His second wife was Sondra Anderson; the couple had two sons. His third marriage, in October of 1992, to Donna Roesler, brought him a stepson and stepdaughter.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters and sons-in-law, Lorie and Brian Johnson, of Oakland; Catherine and Doyle Risch of Howells; and Deborah and Kevin Vering of Duncan; sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Christie Crannell and Grant and Tracy Crannell, all of Beatrice; stepson and spouse, Jeff and Jennifer Roesler of LaVista; stepdaughter and spouse, Jennifer and Casey McLaughlin of Diller; 12 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; mother, Ellen Crannell, and brother, Jon Crannell, both of Tekamah; sister, Beverly Crannell of Fort Calhoun; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Diller Fire and Rescue Squad for a new fire hall kitchen, or to the family’s choice.

Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice is in charge of arrangements.

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave #35910529

Printed in the Washington County Pilot-Tribune on 11/25/2008


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