James E. "Jim" Cranwell

James Ernest “Jim” Cranwell, 86, of St. Paul, NE, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Services will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul, with Pastor John Doolittle officiating. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be Monday, June 16, 2025, at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation to the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America Fund, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Jim was born on April 24, 1939, in Sterling, CO, to Clyde and Inez (Colson) Cranwell. Raised on the Colorado-Nebraska state line near Lamar, he developed a deep love of horses and farming from a young age. One of his earliest companions was a spirited Shetland pony named Trinky, sparking a lifelong passion for horses and horsemanship.

Jim attended school in Amherst and later graduated from Holyoke High School, where he excelled in athletics, earning ten letters and state honors in football and track. His love for sports and horses continued into his adult life.

After working several jobs—including farming, construction, and in a sugar beet plant—he returned to college and earned a degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University. He later pursued graduate studies under renowned professors and veterinarians, contributing to advancements in equine reproduction.

He married the love of his life, Deanna May Sisk, on November 27, 1960. Together they raised three children—Clyde, Sandy, and Shauna—and built a life centered around family, hard work, and a shared passion for horses.

In 1979, Jim and his father began taking their horses to the racetrack, starting in Lincoln, NE. Their very first entry won, igniting a passion for the sport that would define the next 35 years of his life. Over the years, Jim developed a strong presence on the Nebraska circuit—including Columbus and Fonner Park in Grand Island—and expanded his reach to tracks across the country. He sent horses to Prairie Meadows in IA, Parx Racing in PA, Turf Paradise in AZ, and Canterbury Park in MN. He also competed on the Chicago-area circuit and many other tracks throughout the Midwest and beyond. With Deanna by his side, he built a successful training and breeding operation near St. Paul, NE, raising several stakes-winning horses and amassing over 500 career wins as a trainer. He was known not just for his success on the track, but for the deep knowledge, dedication, and respect he brought to the horse racing community.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna Cranwell of St. Paul; his children, Dr. Clyde Cranwell of Hays, KS, Sandy and Keith Boone of Camilla, GA, and Shauna and Jeff Christensen of St. Paul, NE; eight grandchildren, Temple James Boone (Alexandrea), Tayler Boone (Andrea), Amanda Cranwell, Emily Meyers (Noah), Megan Cranwell, Haley Cranwell (Dakoda), Kaycee Cranwell, and Valerie Christensen; four great-grandsons, Temple Jackson Boone, William Boone, Grayson Boone, and Harrison Boone, with another great-grandson, Daniel Christian Boone, expected later this year; and his sisters, Jacque and Loren Patterson of Eads, CO, Bonita Jean Rettele of Fort Walton, FL, and Connie and Loren Rettele of Glendora, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Inez Cranwell, and his daughter-in-law, Kristi Cranwell.