Martin Krommenhoek 1918 - 2009

KROMMENHOEK, VAN WAART, GNEHM

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2013 at 14:11:38

Sioux City Journal
17 December 2009

SIOUX CITY -- Martin Krommenhoek, known by most as "Bob", 91, of Los Alamos, N.M., formerly of Sioux City, died Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Los Alamos after a long illness and a recent stroke.

Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church, 1201 Dubuque Street, Sioux City, with the Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.

Mr. Krommenhoek was born in Sioux City on Oct. 25, 1918. He was the son of H.W. and Cornelia (Van Waart) Krommenhoek. He was one of eight children including Elizabeth Kleyweg, Marian Miller, Henry W. "Heinie" Krommenhoek Jr., Josina (Bergsma) Van Veldhuizen, Cora Vermilyea, Martha Doorn and Nellie Magnuson.

He attended Central High School prior to working for the Great Northern Railroad as a machinist/apprentice in 1936. He later became the locomotive foreman for the Sioux City branch of the Minneapolis Division and continued his employment there for 43 years. He retired in 1978 at the age of 59.

In 1938, he was married to Frances Gnehm, also of Sioux City. The couple remained there until 1988, when they moved to New Mexico. While living in Sioux City, they were charter members of Bethany Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod and remained active there until they relocated to New Mexico. He served Bethany for many years as a trustee. He had many talents which were beneficial in keeping the church well maintained and ready for worship at all times.

Bob and Frances became members of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Santa Fe, after moving to New Mexico. Later, Bob joined Redeemer Lutheran Church of Los Alamos, which began and remains a mission congregation of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod.

After his retirement from the railroad, he began an ambitious hobby building scale models of historical steam locomotives, he had learned to know as an apprentice. During his years of retirement, he completed two live steam engines built to scale and entirely machined by hand in his own machine shop at his home. Everyone who saw them came away amazed at his precision workmanship and attention to detail.

Losing his beloved wife in 2006 to lung cancer, he lived the rest of his life in the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mark and Marlene Hinrichs of Los Alamos. He struggled with congestive heart failure for many years, but it never stopped him from leading an active life until his death.

He is survived by one sister, Nellie Magnuson of Sioux City and Tampa, Fla., where she resides with her son for a portion of every year; and two children, Paul M. Krommenhoek of Alamo, Calif., and Marlene E. Hinrichs of Los Alamos, N.M. He was grandfather to five children, Erik and Chad Krommenhoek, sons of Paul and Jennifer Krommenhoek, and Jeffrey, Peter and Benjamin Hinrichs, sons of Mark and Marlene Hinrichs; and great-grandchildren, Noah and Noel Krommenhoek are the children of Erik and Nan Krommenhoek of San Marcos, Calif., twin sisters, Lillian and Isabelle are the children of Jeff and Qi Hinrichs of San Diego, Calif., and Peter and Ashley Hinrichs are the parents of Levi Hinrichs and reside in Frederick, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his son, LCDR Jeffrey M. Krommenhoek who died in 1967 while serving on active duty with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War; in addition to one brother and five sisters.

His life had always been a clear depiction of a kind and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who unselfishly put the needs of others before his own. He aspired to live a life following the Golden Rule of doing to others as you would have them do to you.

Martin Krommenhoek was one of those rare individuals who not only talked the talk but walked the walk. He was bestowed by all who knew him with honor, respect and dignity, but most of all love. His family will miss him dearly in the months and years ahead.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, a ministry of the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod.