Paper salesman was deacon at S. Toledo Catholic church

9/29/2003

Victor C. DeCrane, a paper salesman who became a vice president of Ohio & Michigan Paper Co. and who served as a Catholic deacon for about 26 years, died Friday in Toledo Hospital. He was 71.

The cause of death was complications from leukemia, said his daughter Marianne DeCrane-Brent.

Mrs. DeCrane-Brent said her father would be remembered most for his love of people.

Mr. DeCrane was born in Maumee to Belgian immigrants. He married the former Helen Woods in April, 1953. Soon after their wedding, Mr. DeCrane entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Korean War.

Mr. DeCrane took a job as salesman for Ohio and Michigan Paper in 1959. He moved up through the ranks and in 1961, was transferred to the company's Findlay office.

He lived in Findlay with his family for eight years, where he became active in his church as a basketball coach and member of the church's Holy Name Society, his daughter said.

Mr. DeCrane also was a member of the Knights of Columbus and, in 1964, was named Knight of the Year. In 1967, he was made Grand Knight of Council 957.

Two years later, Mr. DeCrane moved back to the Toledo area with his family when he was made sales manager of the fine paper division for Ohio and Michigan Paper. He later became a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

In 1976 Mr. DeCrane was ordained to the permanent diaconate at OLPH and had since presided over many baptisms, weddings, and funerals, Mrs. DeCrane-Brent said.

“He had a calling to do that,” Mrs. DeCrane-Brent said. “He did many things including hospital visits, marriage counseling, and he held a retreat for engaged couples.”

In 1979, Mr. DeCrane was appointed vice president of fine paper for Ohio and Michigan Paper. He retired from the company in 1997.

Soon after his retirement, he began working part time for Greenwood Printing and Adams Screen Printing & Embroidery.

Mr. DeCrane was also an advisory board member for graphics technology at Terra Technical Community College in Fremont.

Surviving are his wife, Helen; son, Victor Craig DeCrane; daughters, Melissa Kissner and Marianne DeCrane-Brent, and four grandchildren.

The body will be in the Coyle Funeral Home after 2 p.m. today, where a scripture service will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services are at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church.

The family suggests tributes to the Leukemia Society or Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Building and/or Endowment Fund.