Earl Thurman CRONK

CRONK, CLEVELAND, KELLEY, LAIRD, ALLEN, BUSH, HAUS, JURGENA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/30/2014 at 13:20:14

July 2, 1919 --- April 26, 2014

Earl Cronk, 94, Belmond, died April 26, 2014 at Iowa Special Hospital. Services were held Tuesday at Andrews Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will be at a later date at the Belmond Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Belmond United Methodist Church.

Earl Thurman, son of Charles and Ellen (Cleveland) Cronk, was born July 2, 1919 at Portsmouth, OH. The family later moved to Goldfield where Earl graduated from high school. Earl was united in marriage to Doris D. Kelley on October 14, 1940 in Belmond. They were blessed with three children: Fred, Dee and Allen. Earl enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII and he spent part of his tenure on the LST 964 group transport carrier. Earl received numerous commendations, including the World War II Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Occupation Service Medal. He was honorably discharged as an MM 1st Class. Earl spent two years working on the Al-Can Highway. He was employed by the Wright County Road Department for 39 years, his last eight years as road foreman and weed commissioner.

Earl will be remembered by his family for his humor, hugs and generous smile, and he will be dearly missed. He was preceded in death by infant daughter Vonnie Jean; three brothers; and two sisters. Those left to cherish the memory of Earl's life include his wife of nearly 74 years, Dee, of Belmond; son Fred of Belmond; daughter, Dee (Al) Laird of Marion; son Allen (Edie) Cronk of Beaverdale; grandchildren Pam (Ben) Allen, Michelle (Delond) Bush, Brandon Cronk, Heather (Larry) Haus, Asa Cronk, Val Jurgena, Brad Cronk, and Kelley Jo Cronk; and many beloved great grandchildren.

Belmond Independent - Belmond, Iowa
April 30, 2014