Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Crane, Joseph 1925
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Ionia Sentinel Standard, 17 Nov 1925

Joe Crane, 82, Is Killed By Train Monday

Well-Known Berlin Resident Struck While Walking Across Grand Trunk Bridge, West 
of the City.

Joe Crane, 82, well known Berlin resident and one of the pioneers of Ionia 
county, was fatally injured Monday afternoon when he was struck by a Grand 
Trunk passenger train on the river bridge two miles west of the city.  He lived 
an hour or more after the accident, dying while on the way to a Grand Rapids 
hospital in the ambulance.

Mr. Crane was walking along the tracks as was his custom, and failed to hear 
the approaching train until it had started across the bridge.  He then made an 
attempt to get out of the way and apparently stumbled.  Although hurled several 
feet by the train, he was not thrown from the bridge.  One foot was severed, 
his legs were broken, and his skull fractured.

When the train was finally brought to a stop, it was found that Mr. Crane could 
not be reached until the engine and cars had been uncoupled and part of the 
train run off the bridge.  He was conscious when put aboard the train, and told 
trainmen who he was.  He was brought back to Ionia, and preparations made at 
once to rush him to Grand Rapids.

The injured man soon lapsed into unconsciousness, and was in that condition 
when the ambulance started with him from Ionia.  As the ambulance neared Mr. 
Crane’s home on M-21 east of the county farm, and when he was but a short 
distance from his farm, he breathed his last.  The ambulance was turned about, 
and the body brought back to Ionia.

It was said Tuesday by trainmen that on two previous occasions he had been 
caught on the railroad bridge but that the train crew had seen him in time to 
bring the train to a stop before striking him.  For many years the aged man has 
taken long walks every day, and he was a familiar figure to motorists on M-21 
as he walked along with the aid of two canes.

Mr. Crane was born near Maple Corners August 5, 1844, and came to Ionia when a 
young man.  His wife was Miss Lucy Ludwick, of Lyons, and is now nearly 80 
years of age.  Besides his widow he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Francis 
Bissell, of Pewamo, and Mrs. Lecky Beadle, of Ionia, and three sisters, Mrs. 
Homer Adgate, Mrs. John Anderson, and Mrs. Abigail Hall, all of Ionia county.  
Bert Reed, of Ionia is a son-in-law.

The Ionia Masonic lodge, of which he was for many years a member, will have 
charge of the funeral service Thursday.  He was also a member of the Ionia Elks 
lodge.


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