A Tribute to Brent Gail Crane
Peace Corp Volunteer 1965 – 1967
St. John’s Anglican School, Gouyave, St. John’s, Grenada
Brent was the first teacher in our woodwork shop in the newly built Canadian gift school building fully stocked with tools of carpentry. Brent was very good teacher, he inspired and encouraged his students as a result they learned how to make many pieces of furniture which were displayed at Expo 69 all receiving top ribbons. Because of his down to earth personality, fun loving, friendliness, purpose to serve others and his love for fishing he was accepted and love by mostly everyone in the fishing town of Gouyave. He was brave enough to go out to the ocean with some of the fisherman on D’Lanse; however, he came back with mostly all the flesh eaten away from the insides of his palms, we really did not understand why he thought that his hands was a hard as these fishermen who have been doing this all their lives for all living; however, it was obvious that he hooked into a fish, he survived and I never heard him wanting to go to the ocean to fish in those small boats again. We spend hours upon hours at Mr. Duncan sawmill on the end of Edward Street searching for special pieces of scrap wood Mr. Vernon Duncan (RIP) would let us have just to convert them into something so beautiful one would marvel.
Brent’s place was a great hangout for the likes of now Br. Bernard “Cattie” Gibbs, Teacher Anthony Lewis, Lesley “Spread Joy” Samuel, Wesley “Yea” Vincent, Kingston “Worm” Baptist, Crispin and Mikey Passee, the boys played draughts, listened to music and went fishing came back and cooked the catch of the day into a Grenadian (“Broff”, a simple dish of vegetables, cocoanut, dumplings and freshly caught fish seasoned with lemons, lime juice, pepper, onions, garlic, thyme and other Caribbean seasoning) Fish broth.
I was very fortunate to have met his mother, father, sister and the love of his life Juliana. His parents are deceased and his sister is now a doctor In Arizona. Brent was a teacher, a mentor and a great friend. Our friendship was rekindled when I migrated to the US, we talked on the phone from time to time with the intention of visiting each other; however, the visits never materialized for one reason or another. I was devastated when I found out that he passed approximately two weeks after our last conversation.
Just to demonstrate his love for the people of Gouyave he, his wife Juliana and daughter Malinda around 1997, brought lots of school supplies to including pencils, notebooks, lots of books, paper and six new Dell computers to St. John’s Anglican School. Brent and Juliana returned in 2000 and brought some equipment for a school for blind children and more books and tools for the Anglican school in Gouyave. Brent made sure that his entire family especially the kids had an opportunity to visit Grenada especially Gouyave. Around 2003 Brent and Juliana brought their son Bruce, his wife Leslie and their two children to Gouyave and on that trip they again brought lots of books for the Anglican school library and tools for the woodwork shop. During those years they shipped a large crate filled with tools procured with the help of Phinsley St. Louis in Missouri again to the Anglican school. Then around 2000 their daughter Jenifer and her husband took a cruise to Grenada rented a car and drove up to Gouyave to visit the Anglican school and had lunch with my brother Crispin.
This great human being devoted his entire life to serving others adopting St. John’s Anglican school and treated its students as his own children. Brent was very talented in the woodwork shop and it was a joy to have been one of his students. I have employed some skills I acquired from him in remodeling parts of my home.
On behalf of St. John’s Anglican School, the people of Gouyave and Grenada we would like to express our sincere condolences to the entire crane family and pray that God will comfort them in this time of bereavement and the loss of the head of their family, husband, father and grandfather.
October 28, 1942 - September 24, 2017
Born in Jefferson City, Missouri
Resided in Jefferson City, Missouri
Obituary
Brent Gail Crane, 74, passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017, at Capital Region Medical Center. He was born on October 28, 1942, in Jefferson City, the son of the late Julian Cauthorn and Lucille E. (Simmons) Crane.
He was a 1961 graduate of Eldon High School and he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Lincoln University in 1971. Brent continued his education with a Master’s degree in 1974 from the University of Central Missouri.
Brent was united in marriage to the love of his life, Juliana Henrietta Luebbering, on August 30, 1969, in St. Thomas. Mrs. Crane resides at the home.
Brent’s global adventures began with his father early in his life. From 1965-67, Brent served in the Peace Corps teaching high school students’ woodshop on the Island of Grenada. On his 21st birthday, Brent and his family traveled to a mission station in Namibia where they helped build schools and hospitals. His passion for helping others continued throughout the rest of his life. He and his wife continued their journeys abroad doing mission work; returning to Namibia twice. Brent served as president of their private family foundation, called S.A.V.E, Inc., which continues to support local, national, and international projects.
He loved teaching Industrial Arts Woodshop for twenty-eight years at Simonson Junior High School in Jefferson City, retiring in 1997. Often around town, he saw one of his “favorite” students (they were all his favorite) whom he helped inspire to greatness. In addition, he also sold real estate where he met lifelong friends.
Brent was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church. He enjoyed fishing and watching sports with his children and grandchildren. He never met a broken thing that he could not fix.
Other survivors include a son, Bruce (Leslie) Crane, Jefferson City; two daughters, Jenifer (Jeffrey) Valenti, Kansas City; and Malinda (Rick) Barnett, Kansas City; five grandchildren, Michaela Crane, Colin Crane, Jackson Valenti, Nicolas Valenti and Anna Valenti; and one sister, Dr. Julieen (Daniel) Crane Siebers, Scottsdale, AZ. He cherished his family and friends throughout his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 27th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with prayer service at 3:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, September 28, 2017, at St. Peter Catholic Church with the Rev. Basil Eruo officiating.
Burial will be in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to S.A.V.E., Inc., % Mrs. Brent Crane, 3709 Rockridge Rd., Jefferson City, MO 65109; or to St. Peter Catholic Church, 216 Broadway, Jefferson City, MO 65101.