Croker, Brent Allen (1961-2012)
CROKER, HOLMES, APPLESETH, ADAMS, TOMPKINS, MENNING, WIKSTROM
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/28/2012 at 11:37:50
Brent Allen Croker
October 14, 1961 - June 20, 2012Storm Lake, Iowa
Brent Croker experienced a life of continuous growth and new challenges. Whether he was expressing his love for his cherished family, voicing his frustration with his sometimes challenging lawn and garden, enjoying his annual Boundary Waters trip, or expanding the minds of his students to learn the history and social systems of America, Brent passionately sought to ensure the growth, happiness, and wellbeing of everyone around him.
He was born to Donald and Cloda (Holmes) Croker in Onawa, Iowa, on October 14, 1961. He died on June 20, 2012, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota.
Brent graduated from Whiting High School in 1980 and Buena Vista University (BVU) in 1984. While a student at BVU in Storm Lake, Iowa, he met the love of his life, Kathryn Appleseth. They were married July 21, 1984, at Grace Lutheran Church in Storm Lake.
Brent started his educational career as a teacher and coach at St. Mary’s High School, Storm Lake, in the fall of 1984. After three years there, he worked as an admissions counselor at BVU and for New York Life Insurance as a salesperson before returning to his passion for education in the fall of 1989 at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn. He remained at MMC until 2003 when Storm Lake Middle School hired him as the eighth grade social studies teacher. He remained there until his untimely death.
During their almost twenty-eight year marriage, Brent and Kathy welcomed three children, Katelyn Marie, Aaron Jordan (AJ), and Kallie Kathryn, into their family. While Brent enjoyed his role teaching others, nothing made him happier or his trademark smile wider than spending time with his family.
A self-proclaimed Iowa Hawkeye fan and a devoted Nebraska Huskers football fan, Brent’s commentaries on the Huskers’ performance were routinely published in the opinion section of the Omaha World Herald. Nevertheless, he may have missed his calling as a meteorologist since he most likely watched more of the Weather Channel than he did of college football. In addition, he took great pride in his lawn and his garden, fighting off pests and weeds while cultivating his crops. He was typically the family cook and definitely the person family and friends wanted on their teams for trivia games with his deep knowledge of American History, particularly that of the Civil War and World War II.
Brent is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his children, Katelyn (Matt) Adams, of Storm Lake, Iowa, Aaron Croker, of Ames, Iowa, and Kallie Croker, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his brother, Brian (Brenda) Croker, of Whiting, Iowa; and his sister, Kimberly (Clarence) Tompkins, also of Whiting, Iowa.
Other survivors include his mother-in-law, Adeline Appleseth, of Storm Lake, Iowa; and his sisters- and brothers-in-law, Cindy Appleseth, of Stillwater, Minnesota, Diane (Gregg) Menning, of Northfield, Minnesota, Kaye (Daryl) Wikstrom, of Chaska, Minnesota, and Mike (Ann) Appleseth, of Panora, Iowa, as well as many nieces and nephews.
His father and mother, Donald and Cloda Croker, and his father-in-law, George Appleseth, preceded him in death.
Visitation: 1:00-6:00 p.m. with family present from 3:00-6:00 p.m., June 24, 2012, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., June 25, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Interment: June 25, 2012, at the Storm Lake Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa.Copyright © 2012, Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Home
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