Verene Crane

VISITATION:

4-7 p.m., Friday at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church

SERVICE:

11 a.m., Saturday, July 22 at First Presbyterian Church, Chippewa Falls

Verene Alice Crane, 91, passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at the Chippewa Manor Retirement Center in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

She leaves a legacy of enriching the lives of everyone she met. She was intelligent, open-minded, loyal, generous and always optimistic - an inspiring role model. Her children say that throughout their lives, whenever they met someone that knew Verene, they always said the same four words: "I love your mom!"

Verene was born in Sycamore, Illinois, on July 10, 1926 to Ruth and Obert Voll. Her father was a Methodist minister and her mother was a nurse dedicated to outreach. Their inspiration made faith and service a foundation for Verene throughout her life.

She had a love of learning, graduating from Chippewa Falls High School in 1944 and then studying at both UW-Madison and the University of Minnesota. During her time at Madison, she became one of the first women members of the UW band, playing the flute. She graduated from the U of M at the top of her class in 1948, with a degree in home economics and nutrition. After graduation she worked as a nutritionist and home management specialist at the Vince Day Center for disadvantaged children, making immediate use of what she had learned. She went on to share her knowledge over the years as a teacher, mentor, Sunday school teacher and Girl Scout leader. She also had a life-long interest in the natural world, participating in bird counts, attending the Audubon field station and taking people on nature hikes. In the early 1970s, she returned to college at UWEC and Stout, studying library science and media. She then taught for many years as a librarian and media specialist at Halmstad and Hillcrest Elementary Schools in Chippewa Falls, where students loved her puppet shows.

She married Seymour R. Cray in 1947 and they had three children: Susan, Steven and Carolyn. During their remarkable 27-year marriage, Verene played a key role in Seymour's success as a computer designer. She was a smart and understanding partner, and managed all aspects of their daily lives and care of their children. She was the glue that held it all together.

She went on to marry Robert Crane of Chippewa Falls in 1980, and his three children (Douglas, Tom and Mary) also became part of her life. Their marriage was filled with friends, family, travel around the world and many wonderful pets.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Terry) Borman of Altoona, Steven (Deborah) Cray of Chippewa Falls, Carolyn (Kevin) Arnold of Minneapolis; a sister, Ruth Sass of White Bear Lake, MN; a brother, John (Sarah) Voll of Washington DC; three step-children, Douglas (Diane) Crane, Tom (Patti) Crane, Mary Schmitz; four grandchildren, Emily (Clinton) Borman-Shoap, Sam (Ilse) Borman, Alison (Rodney) Williams and Scott Cray; and eight great-grandchildren, Oscar and Eddie Shoap, Hendrix, Miles and Marley Williams, and Naomi, Otto and Nadia Borman.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Crane; her parents, Ruth and Obert Voll; and her grandson, Andrew S. Cray.

Memorials are recommended to the National Center for Transgender Equality (Andrew S. Cray Fund), the Girl Scouts Camp Nawakwa, and the Cook-Rutledge Mansion.

A celebration of Verene's life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 22 at First Presbyterian Church, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Karel Hanhart officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls. A luncheon will follow at First Presbyterian Church.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Friday at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.