Joan Janet Krenz 1929 - 2018

KRENZ, UTLEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/21/2018 at 22:17:00

Sioux City Journal
6 May 2018

Formerly Sioux City

Joan Janet Krenz, 89, formerly of Sioux City, died on May 3, 2018, in Bethlehem, Pa.

All services will be held privately. Please offer condolences at connellfuneral.com.

Joan was born on Feb. 25, 1929, to Harold and Dorothy Utley, on their northeastern Iowa farm roughly a mile outside New Hampton. Joan grew up on the farm, never had a bicycle, but did have her horse, Trixie. Upon graduating high school, Joan attended Drake University in Des Moines.

Upon graduating from Drake, Joan took a high school teaching position in Davenport, Iowa. Here she met her future husband and lifelong partner, Dean Krenz (a University of Minnesota journalism graduate and Korean War veteran). After roughly a year, Joan and Dean were married in New Hampton, enjoyed a quick honeymoon in the Twin Cities, and then ventured off to Kalispell, Mont., where Dean took the position of editor of the region's weekly newspaper.

In September 1957, Joan gave birth to Joan and Dean's only child, Keith. As was customary at the time, climbing the journalism ladder meant frequent relocations. Therefore, from Kalispell, Joan, Dean and Keith moved to Klamath Falls, Ore., Oregon City, Ore., Boothwyn, Pa., Yardley, Pa., and finally settling down in Sioux City in 1975.

While Keith went to engineering school back east, met his sweetheart, Lyn, married Lyn and started their own family, Joan and Dean embraced Sioux City. With Dean as publisher of the Sioux City Journal, the couple became active within the community during their 39 years in Sioux City. Once grandchildren came along, Joan and Dean would host the Pennsylvania Krenz contingent for two weeks every summer at Lake Okoboji, Iowa, and spend Christmas with them in Pennsylvania. Upon Dean's retirement, Joan and Dean traveled extensively, primarily in Europe, became Arizona snowbirds, and continued to enjoy time with their three grandchildren, Lauren, Kate and Doug, that included Lauren's wedding and Kate's wedding.

Joan Krenz is survived by her son, Keith and daughter-in-law, Lyn of Bethlehem; grandchildren, Lauren Bartell and her husband, William of San Antonio, Texas, Kate Riel and her husband, Jason of Bellingham, Mass., and Douglas Dean Krenz of Philadelphia, Pa.; and great-grandson, Dean William Bartell of San Antonio.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist, 4040 Durham Rd., Ottsville, PA 18942, in the name of the Krenz Family Scholarship Fund.