Mark W. Crane

He was born July 14, 1954, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to his parents, Rolland Pitts Crane and Lorraine Valentine Jenson. He was the third of four boys. He is survived by his brothers, Patrick Conrad Crane, Jan Whitney Crane, and Eric Rolland Crane, and his wife and sons.

Mark attended public schools and was admitted to MIT for college. He studied chemistry; after he finished his degree, he went to Sloan School for a masters in Business.

He met her during college, then married Barbara Ann Wilson on June 4th, 1977. They traveled extensively during the early years of the marriage, then had two boys, Sean Thomas Crane and David Christopher Crane. In 1996, they were laid off from Digital Equipment Corporation; then traveled around the world with the children, then age 8 and turning 5 on the trip, visiting England, Scotland, Paris, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Then they flew to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Hawaii before returning to Colorado.

Mark ended up working at an aircraft equipment supplier for a year or two. Then he joined Oracle Corporation for approximately 20 years, until retirement.

He was actively involved with Cub Scouts, and then Boy Scouts for many years, even after his sons earned the rank of Eagle. He led camping trips, and activities such as building a rope bridge, and attended a national Jamboree. He also went camping with his whole family, including his sons’ cousins,.

Mark joined the Catholic Church in 2000, and had always gone with Barbara to Mass, even in college. He also supported our sons’ Catholic schools, helping out with projects and fundraising.

He was a gentle, patient person with his family, and while doing tech support, and the CNAs who supported him in the last few years, and had a great sense of humor, despite his diagnosis.

Mark was always interested in what was happening in the world, and shared those interests with those around him.

He then supported his wife's software business, Auction Systems, which was winding down, after 25 years.

Mark started noticing foot drop in 2020. After checking with more doctors, was diagnosed with limb-onset ALS in 2022. He kept his voice until the last week or so, but dealt with gradual and steady deterioration in his limbs.

Mark will be cremated. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00AM, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2030 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80904. Please join the family for a meal immediately following the Mass.

Mark will be laid to rest at a later date at St. Mary's Cathedral Columbarium, 22 W Kiowa Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

I have lost my best friend and the love of my life, and will miss him. --Barbara Crane