PROPHETSTOWN -- Harold E. Crandall, Jr. was born on April 24, 1925, in Prophetstown to Harold and Alice (Anderson) Crandall. He married Elizabeth Stickel, of Tampico, on May 3, 1944.



Together they raised five children, Dale (Terri), of Greenville, Ohio, Gail (John) Carrillo, of Sterling, Douglas (Rachel) and Diana (Kent) Verkruysse, of Prophetstown and Harold (Pam), of Rock Falls. Elizabeth died in 1991. Harold later married Dorothy Heinsen in Florida in 1993.



He was the proud grandfather of 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; two stepchildren, Larry(Teresa) Keag, and Lori (Joel) Lacy, of Erie; two step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild. He also had two sisters, Ardith (Clark) Woolums, of Prophetstown, and Ramona Dickinson, of Ionia, Mich.; and one brother, Donald Crandall.



He was preceded in death by two sisters, Audry Crandall and Beverly Toppert.



Harold retired in 1989 after farming nearly 50 years in the Prophetstown-Tampico area. He was well known for his ability to repair farm equipment and also for bailing hay and straw for the neighboring farmers. Whenever someone needed an extra hand or equipment, Harold and his sons were there. He was also known in the area for his custom corn shelling. He also drove truck for Boyd's Casket Company, picking up and delivering to funeral homes, the most notable one being for Elvis Presley, in which he helped the funeral director place Elvis in his casket. His favorite pastime, in addition to spending time with Dorothy, was enjoying his collection of antique tools and John Deere memorabilia. He also was a 60-year member of the Sterling Moose Lodge.



Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.



Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at McDonald Funeral Home, 46 Grove Street, Route 78 North, Prophetstown. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown. Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.



Condolences may be sent at www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com on the Internet.