Doris D. (Kelley) CRONK

CRONK, KELLEY, LAIRD, FULLER, BUSH, HAUS, JURGENA

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/10/2016 at 17:29:49

August 24, 1923 ----- July 3, 2016

BELMOND — Doris D. Cronk, age 92, of Belmond, IA, died, Sunday, July 3, 2016, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond, IA. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 8, 2016, at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 1st Street S.E., Belmond. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home Friday.

Doris Kelley, the daughter of Omer B. and Josephine Belle (Fuller) Kelley, was born Aug. 24, 1923. She attended and graduated from Belmond Public Schools. Doris continued her education following high school at NIACC Community College in Mason City, IA. Doris was united in marriage to Earl Thurman Cronk on Oct. 14, 1940, in Belmond, IA. The couple’s union was blessed with three children: Fred, Dee, and Allen, and a daughter Vonnie who passed away in infancy.

Doris was a life long homemaker who strived very diligently to provide a loving and nurturing home for her husband and life partner of nearly 74 years Earl, her children and grandchildren.

Doris and Earl enjoyed traveling to visit their son Fed when he lived in Idaho, excursions to the eastern U.S. to view the picturesque fall leaves, and on occasion to Texas. They had been to the Grand Ole Opry and to Appalachian Trail.

She truly loved anything that involved times with her family, whether it was a holiday gathering where a highlight would most certainly include one of her delicious meals topped off with some of her wonderful home made candy. Another favorite pastime was fishing with Earl and her family to an area river or lake, a favorite destination of which was Clear Lake. She had also enjoyed some hunting in earlier years. The family looked forward to attending car races at the local speedway over the years. Doris was a life long gardener, raising a larger vegetable and flower garden. She loved to make candles. Her grandkids and great-grand kids relished times spent with “Grandma Grape” and Earl no matter what the occasion might entail.

Doris was fond of hummingbirds and enjoyed the companionship of the family dog early on. She was a very kind, social, and gentle lady who loved to visit with others. Many of these conversations certainly would include a cup of coffee as the pot was always on when one would stop to chat with her and Earl.

Doris truly was a wonderful caregiver to her family and Earl over the times of his declining health prior to his passing on April 26, 2014. During their time following their move to the Belle Haven Assisted Living in Belmond, the couple enjoyed numerous activities and fellowship there. Doris looked forward to the church services there, as well as Bingo and other festivities. She was a longtime member of the Belmond United Methodist Church and in the past of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Her memory will live on in the lives of her son Fred Cronk, Belmond, IA; daughter Dee (Al) Laird, Marion, IA; and Allen (Edie) Cronk, Beaverdale, IA; her grandchildren: Pam (Ben) Allen, Michelle (Delon) Bush, Brandon Cronk, Heather (Larry) Haus, Asa Cronk, Val Jurgena, Brad Cronk, and Kelly Jo Cronk; and also many beloved grandchildren; nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl, daughter Vonnie, 2 sisters Violet and Helen, and 2 brothers Omer and Lawrence. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, IA.