Obituary of Barbara Ann Crane

Barbara Ann Blaskovich Crane passed away on Monday, September 29, 2008, at her home on East Court Street in Iowa City following a long illness. Funeral services will be held at St. Wenceslaus Church, 630 E. Davenport Street in Iowa City on Saturday, October 4, at 10:30 am. Burial services will be held at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines at 4 pm on Saturday. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Friday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will conclude the visitation at 7pm. Online condolences may be sent for Barb’s family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Barbara was born February 11, 1943 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of John and Mary (Pastovich) Blaskovich. She married Robert C. Crane on October 3, 1970 in Des Moines. Barbara attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Des Moines, where she graduated in 1961. She also attended the Mercy School of Nursing in Des Moines, where she graduated with honors in 1964. She worked for Mercy Medical Center, Veterans Hospital and Broadlawns Medical Center, all in Des Moines. She also worked for Stanford University Hospital in California before moving to Iowa City, where she worked for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She later did health screenings for insurance companies and workers’ compensation claims. Barbara was a devout Catholic and a member of St. Wenceslaus Church. She was past president of the former Mary Coldran Home in Iowa City. She enjoyed reading, knitting and her beloved cats. Survivors include her husband Robert, of Iowa City, her son Michael (Susan) of Chicago and her daughter Kristine of New York; her mother Mary Blaskovich, of Des Moines; a sister, Kathy (Richard Vanderlinden), of Grand Ledge, Michigan; and two brothers, Jack (Cecilia) of Denver, Colorado and Paul, of Des Moines. She was preceded in death by her father, John Blaskovich of Des Moines. Barbara was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in April 2005, just two days after the death of the late Pope John Paul II, whom she revered. She fought a valiant battle against the disease and believed strongly in the powers of modern medicine to aid her. She had many loving friends who assisted in her care-giving and spiritual uplifting. She died a peaceful death at home surrounded by her family. Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice, St. Wenceslaus Church and the Dominican Sisters. A special note of gratitude to Comfort Keepers of Iowa City. Gay and Ciha Funeral Home assisted with funeral service arrangements.