David G. Crane
Jan. 11, 1937-Jan. 11, 2023
After a brief battle with cancer, Dr. David Goodrich Crane entered heaven on Jan. 11, 2023, to enjoy a birthday celebration with his Savior. He was 86.
Born in Chicago on Jan. 11, 1937, “Baby David” was the youngest of five children born to Dr. George and Cora Crane.
While he came of age in Chicago, David credited the long summers and annual holidays spent on the family farm in Hillsboro, Ind., for giving him his education in “horse sense,” which served him well throughout his life.
After graduating from high school in Chicago, David joined his siblings — including his “Irish twin” brother and best friend, Dan — at Hillsdale College in Michigan, where he excelled in academics and developed a lifelong love of art. He also enjoyed participating on the track team, swim team, baseball team and football team.
He graduated from Hillsdale in 1958 and went on to medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, graduating with his medical degree in 1962. He did his internship at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and his residency in psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine.
David also entered law school at Indiana University in 1960, simultaneously juggling night law classes with his medical school duties.
In 1966, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a captain and division psychiatrist for the 25th Infantry Division during his tour in Cu Chi, Vietnam.
In Vietnam, David also met Joan Leslee Brockman, who hailed from Portland, Ore., and was a captain in the Army, serving as a post-op nurse in a field hospital.
Upon their return from Vietnam, David and Joanie were married Jan. 19, 1969, in Hillsboro and began their life together in Bloomington, Ind., where David served as the director of the Monroe County Mental Health Clinic. He also graduated from the Indiana University School of Law that same year.
He later worked as the staff psychiatrist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Indianapolis, and served as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the IU School of Medicine — a position he enjoyed for 30 years.
By 1970, he also opened a private practice, with an office in Bloomington and another in Mooresville, Ind.
He and Joan moved into a farmhouse just outside Martinsville, Ind., in 1971, and two years later, they welcomed their firstborn son, who was followed by three brothers over the next five years.
During this time, David also had three unsuccessful runs for a U.S. Congressional seat in Indiana’s 6th District.
The losses were devastating to David at the time, but in later years, he looked back and credited God’s divine plan, which allowed him to stay close to home and intentionally invest in the lives of his four boys, along with so many others.
In private practice, David’s wisdom, wit and “horse sense” approach had a lasting impact in the lives of his patients, and many credit his assistance in helping them navigate some of the most difficult periods of their lives. He retired in 2016 at the age of 79.
David was a homebody, who enjoyed time in the great outdoors and the simple pleasures of life. He was also a devout Christian and faithfully attended John Wesley Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis for the last 53 years.
Apart from his decision to accept Jesus Christ as his savior, David pointed to the decision to marry Joan as the most important of his life. He often lauded her devotion to God, as well as her many talents and qualities, for sustaining the pivotal role she played in raising their sons, in addition to helping so many others throughout their nearly 54 years of marriage.
David was preceded in death by his first four children lost to miscarriage, his brothers George Crane IV, Philip Crane and Daniel Crane, as well as father George W. Crane III and mother Cora Crane.
David leaves behind wife Joan Crane of Martinsville, sons John (Jean) Crane of Avon, Ind., Douglas (Natalie) Crane of Indianapolis, Ethan (Grecia) Crane of Indianapolis, and Stephen (Laurin) Crane of Martinsville, as well as 16 grandchildren. He also leaves behind sister Judith “Judy” (Crane) Ross of Chicago, along with many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for David will be held Friday, Jan. 27, at John Wesley Free Methodist Church, 5900 W. 46th St., Indianapolis. Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m., with a service at 5 p.m.
Flowers may be sent to the church in care of Pastor Bill Gue at 317-291-3730.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the 25th Infantry Division Association, P.O. Box 7, Flourtown, PA 19031-0007, or to Sagamore Leadership Initiative — of which he was a founder — at sagamoreleadership.org or at P.O. Box 34558, Indianapolis, IN 46234-9998.
Because David donated his body to science, a small graveside service will be held at a later date. Maus Funeral Home in Attica, Ind., is handling arrangements.
