Orville R. Crane

Orville Crane, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at ThedaCare Medical Center in Neenah. Orv was born May 10, 1934, on the home farm in the Winnebago County town of Poygan, son of the late Richard and Matilda (Achterberg) Crane.

He was a graduate of Hortonville High School, entered the United States Marine Corps in 1951, and served during the Korean War as a member of the HMR 161 - Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron under the command of the 3rd Marine Airwing. He was also stationed in both Puerto Rico and Miami, Florida. From 1962 until 1969, Orv was an Outagamie County Deputy Sherriff and then spent twenty-seven years in transportation driving trucks for various companies.

Orv enjoyed hunting, fishing, and the shooting sports. He farmed periodically during his life and gardened until recently. During his life, he collected Marlin lever-action rifles. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Orv was the proud owner of numerous dogs especially labradors. He became particularly attached to the two black labs during his retirement, Jake and Duke.

In 2001, he married Linda Cleppe, and they spent twenty-three wonderful years together. Winters spent in a 5th wheel in a RV park in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas were especially fun and created many lasting friendships as did time at the lake cabin in northern Wisconsin. Orv was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Rifle Association, and the Genesis Club.

Orv is survived by his wife Linda; a daughter Jean (Chuck) Bintzler; and a son Steven (Peggy) Crane. His grandchildren are Kara Delzer-Pynenberg (Tony Pynenberg), Deja Stark (Ryan Roskom), and Michael Stark. His great-grandchildren are Austin, Kaelyn, and Camdyn.

Other survivors include his siblings: Richard (Sharon) Crane, Douglas (Maggie) Crane, Larry (Lynn) Fryfogle, and Juniette (Stephen) Campbell, a son-in-law Dan Delzer, and a brother-in-law Bob Nowak.

He was preceded in death by son Greg Crane, daughter Melody Delzer, grandson Erick Delzer, mother Matilda Fryfogle, step-father William Fryfogle, father Richard Crane, step-mother Vivian Crane, brother Gary Fryfogle and his wife Judy, sisters Eleanor Nowak and her first husband Jerry, LaRue Hunt and her husband Dick, and Debra Vanevenhoven.

Funeral services for Orv will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Wichmann Funeral Home, located at 537 N. Superior Street in Appleton. Rev. Kemp Jones will officiate, and burial with full military honors will take place at Highland Memorial Park. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of the service. Memorial contributions will be shared between the Genesis Club and Toys for Tots.