Frank M. Crane

Paper: Arizona Republic, The (Phoenix, AZ)
Deceased: Dr. Frank M. Crane
Date: October 18, 2006
June 10, 1923 - October 15, 2006


Frank M. Crane, of Ahwatukee Foothills, Phoenix, Arizona, died peacefully in his home October 15, 2006. A Memorial Service will be held at the Mountain View Lutheran Church, 11002 S. 48th St. at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 19, 2006. At a later date a memorial service will be held at the Lake Crystal, Minnesota, Zion Lutheran Church and interment will be in the Crane family plot at the Garden City, Minnesota Cemetery.


Frank M. Crane was the son of Lucas and Marie (Lindquist) Crane. He attended public schools in Garden City, Minnesota. Frank grew up on a farm near Garden City, Minnesota, serving in later years as part owner and manager of the farm. During World War II, he served in the Navy Air Corp 1942-46 Pacific Theater, earning the Air Medal and 2 Gold Stars. He was truly a member of "America's Greatest Generation." After the war, he earned his B.S., M.S., and his Doctorate in Animal Science from the University of Minnesota. In 1951, Dr. Crane joined the Land O' Lakes Animal Feed Division where he held a variety of management positions in feed formulation, nutrition, production, quality control, marketing and research. He was a key person in the development of the Land O' Lakes feed business. He invented the first successful calf milk replacer and then directed the firm's initial programs for marketing it in the U.S. and foreign markets.


In 1970, Dr. Crane was promoted to Vice President of Marketing for the newly created Land O' Lakes-Felco Division in Fort Dodge, Iowa. During the next decade, he served two four-year terms on the American Feed Manufacturers Association's Board of Directors. In 1980, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors. During his chairmanship he served on several advisory committees to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and participated in a major Energy Conference at the White House. In 2000, Dr. Crane was honored for a long career of contribution and dedication to U.S. animal agriculture, the feed industry and public service. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the American Feed Industry Association. At that time, only 20 individuals had received this prestigious recognition over the 92 year history of the association.


Prior to and after retirement Dr. Crane traveled extensively to various feed, food and energy foreign conferences. He made 59 foreign trips visiting six continents and 62 countries. His specific international assignments were consultive and project roles for the American Feed Industry Association, the U.S. Feed Grains Council, the American Soybean Association, the National Renderers Association, Agricultural Cooperative Development International (ACDI), the International Energy Cooperative, and Land O' Lakes, Inc.


Dr. Crane also lectured at universities in Japan, Korea, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Costa Rica and Egypt. His manuscripts for his seminars have been translated and published in eleven languages. In Cairo, Egypt (1985) Dr. Crane was a participant in the First World Water Buffalo Congress and presented a scientific paper on the use of milk replacers for the water buffalo calf. Most of his foreign work has been with the developing countries of the world and directed toward helping these countries make their animal agriculture more productive and to improve the food supply for their people.


Throughout his career, Dr. Crane published many articles pertaining to the animal feed industry, including "The Dairy Industry", "Feeding the Dairy Calf", "Salmonella in Animal Feeds", "Dehydrated Alfalfa Feeds", "Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal", "Dairy Beef" and "World Food Conferences."


Dr. Crane was involved in leadership roles in church, Rotary, and United Way. He frequently lectured to various civic groups on U.S. Agriculture and its relationship with the world's food supply. He was an active member of Arizona Rotary and served as District Governor for Rotary International, whose motto is "Service Above Self."


Dr. Crane was preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey (Kraus) Crane in 1985, daughter Debora in 1984, and brother Ross in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Hildegarde (Streufert) Crane of Phoenix, two daughters and their husbands: Carolyn and Howard Fisk of St. Paul, Minnesota, Dr. Suzanne and Dan Fitzgerald of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and son Dr. Keith Crane and his wife Bozena of Annandale, Virginia; grandchildren Anna and husband Brian Walker, Olen Crane and wife Julie, Allyce and Jacqueline Fisk, plus a great-grandson Nathan; and sister Beulah Lee of Lake Crystal, Minnesota.


Memorials may be given to Mountain View Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, Rotary International Foundation, Hospice of the Valley or charities of choice.


CAPTION: Dr. Frank M. Crane

Section: VALLEY & State
Page: B7

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