Verna Crankshaw

Verna May Crankshaw, age 94, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Greenville, passed away on Friday, July 23, 2021 in Grand Rapids. The daughter of John & Gertrude (Johnson) Crane, she was born on November 1, 1926 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. On July 12, 1945, she married Franklin Crankshaw and together they raised four children and celebrated 75 years of marriage last year. Verna enjoyed time with family, travel and winters in Florida. She loved to quilt, knit and other needlework. Her family is blessed with many beautiful quilts with which to remember her. A devoted wife, mother, and homemaker, Verna had also worked outside the home, first as a telephone operator in Edmore, and later as the office manager at Double D Plastics and then as a bookkeeper for the Gamble's store in Greenville. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Franklin Crankshaw, who passed on May 16, 2021; a son, Hal Franklin Crankshaw; a daughter-in-law, Drella Crankshaw; three brothers, Donald, Lloyd and Emmett; and a great granddaughter, Elaina. Surviving are her children, John & Judy Crankshaw of Grand Rapids, Phyllis & Brian Moser of Greenville; Don Crankshaw of Cedar Springs; a daughter-in-law, Mary Moon Crankshaw; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 10-11 a.m. on Monday, July 26, 2021 at Christiansen's Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday. The Rev. Sue Petro, Emmanuel Hospice Chaplain, will officiate and burial will follow at East Montcalm Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Christiansen's Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, (616) 754-5638. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Verna Crankshaw, please visit our flower store.