GEORGE HENRY McGRANE
April 18, 1923 ~ June 18, 2009

George Henry McGrane, age 86, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at Diamond Willow in Park Rapids, Minnesota. George was born on April 18, 1923 in Osage, Minnesota, Carsonville Township, Becker County. He grew up on a farm between Osage and Ponsford and graduated from Park Rapids Area High School in 1941. George farmed with his Dad, John “Jack” McGrane and also drove a school bus for Linnell School for 10 years while farming. In 1959, George left the farm and took a job at the Osage Garage and Hardware that was owned by Les Enfield. In 1960 George and his brother, Earl, bought the Oldsmobile and Cadillac Garage in Park Rapids, then added Pontiac, Buick and GMC trucks and renamed the business McGrane Motors, Inc. They sold the business in 1980 and retired from full time work. George was a member of the St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Park Rapids and a long time member of the Eagles Club 870 in Park Rapids. On June 14, 1945, he was united in marriage to Barbara Ella Johnson of Crookston, Minnesota. They lived in Park Rapids most of their married life. They had two daughters, Corrine Kay and Rhonda Lynn, and four grandchildren: Amanda Kate and Justin Trevor Lewis and Hanna Corrine and Ella Brynn Bjorklund. George and Barb liked traveling and, in their retirement years, spent some winters in Arizona near George’s sister, Beverly Olson. George and Barb loved dancing and spending time with their family and many friends. George enjoyed eating Barb’s home made pies, gathering with his coffee gang, deer hunting and plowing snow with the McGrane Motor’s Jeep.
George was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara (2004); parents John and Ella McGrane; brother, Earl McGrane (2001); and sister, Helen McGrane Myers (2006). George was also preceded in death by his two brother-in-laws, Joseph Myers and Raymond “Stream” Olson.
He will be lovingly remembered by his two daughters, Corrine (Mark) Lewis of Eden Prairie, MN and Rhonda (Garry) Bjorklund of Fort Collins, CO; sister, Beverly (Raymond) Olson, of Tucson, AZ, and sister-in-law, Lottie McGrane of Park Rapids as well as his four grandchildren and nieces Michelle, Kathy, Patty, Tammy and nephews Tom, David, Paul, Jim, and Brent.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, June 22, 2009 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN with Father Thomas Friedl officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Organist will be Barb Fick. Congregational hymns will be “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace.” Soloist will be Bill Lundsten. He will sing “Beyond the Sunset” and “Precious Lord Take My Hand.” Active Casketbearers will be Mark Lewis, Justin Lewis, Garry Bjorklund, Howard Peterson, Noah Peterson, David McGrane, Dr. Dean Fox, John McGrane Fox, and Larry Grell. Honorary Casketbearers will be his friends: Jack Bloomquist, Jerry Willet, Arvin Packer, Don Hinneberg and all of his “Coffee Gang” friends. Interment will be made in the Linnell Cemetery near Osage, MN. Memorials preferred to the Park Rapids Food Shelf or the Detroit Lakes Hospice.