Jack Bertsch Crahan

Born Aug. 24, 1923 in Galesburg, Ill., Crahan honed his business chops as a youngster, starting his own turkey farm at age 14. He attended the University of Minnesota and enlisted in the Naval Air Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was called back to duty to serve in Korea. He joined Flexsteel in 1947, and along with Sam Santillo, moved the Metal Division to Dubuque in 1955. In 1965-66, Crahan spearheaded the metal division’s move into recreational vehicles, when Winnebago requested that Flexsteel build frames for them. Crahan came up with the phrase, "It's all furniture, but this is just furniture that goes down the road." At the height of the RV business, Flexsteel generated $98 million worth of revenue. Crahan helped take Flexsteel public in 1969. He became the president and chief operating officer in 1985. In 1990, he became chairman of the board and CEO before retiring in 1998. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, and son Pat, a former Flexsteel executive and member of the company’s board of directors. Another son, Kevin, also worked for Flexsteel for a number of years before retiring. Additional survivors include a sister, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.