John Francis "Johnny" Croner 1934-1999

CRONER, JONES, JOGENSON, BROWN, RAMEY, BAUNACH, KAUPAHI, ELLIS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/20/2013 at 14:34:51

John Croner
Estherville – Funeral services for John “Johnny” Croner, 65, of Estherville will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, 1999, at the Union Baptist Church in Estherville with Pastor Dan Swanson officiating. Interment will be held at East Side Memorial Cemetery, Estherville with military graveside rites by VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91 of Estherville. He died on July 6 at Avera Holy Family Hospital, Estherville.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday at the Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville.

He was born on July 5, 1934 in Armstrong, the son of Grant and Mabel (Jorgenson) Croner. He received his education in the Estherville schools, graduating from Estherville High School in 1951. He graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville and Mankato State University in Mankato, Minn. and Minnesota Arts Institute. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, serving with the 12th Air Force, 3rd Shoran Beacon Squadron from 1953 through 1957. He attended radio communication school in Biloxi, Miss. He was a commander of a detachment near Hannover, Germany. He was a staff sergeant when he completed his military service and left the Air Force.

On July 12, 1958, he was united in marriage to Betty Lou Jones in Estherville. He was employed in the grocery business for over 30 years at such places as: M/K Market; Fareway Stores, Mouritsen’s Red Owl, as grocery manager; and Swanson’s and HyVee in management. He also was employed as a Harvestore salesman for 8 ½ years and as a caretaker for Neta Property Management.

He was a member of the Union Baptist Church in Estherville serving as a deacon, board trustee, Sunday school superintendent and as a youth leader. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91, both of Estherville. He also served as president of the Rice County Veteran’s Association in Faribault, Minn.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Estherville; daughters, Tamra Brown and Dan Ramey of Estherville; Lisa Baunach and husband Michael of Louisville, Ky.; Amy Kaupahi and husband Lei of Kauai, Hawaii; five grandchildren; brother, Howard Croner and wife Emogene of Estherville; sister, Ruth Ellis and husband, William Sr. of Graettinger; many nieces and nephews, special friend, William (Billy) Watson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 8, 1999)