ST. LUCAS - Linus Conrad Croatt, 83, St. Lucas, died Wednesday, March 7, 2001 at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital, Decorah, of natural causes.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 10 at St. Luke's Catholic Church, St. Lucas, with Rev. Marvin Salz presiding. Organist was Lorraine Kuennen. The pall was placed on the casket by his children. Margaret Wurzer served as lector.

Interment was in St. Luke's Cemetery with Brian Drilling, Tom Drilling, Greg Drilling, Billy Croatt, Jamie Croatt and Gerald John Croatt as pallbearers.

Visitation was from 3-9 p.m. Friday, March 9 at St. Luke's Chapel, St. Lucas, with a 4 p.m. Rosary, 6:30 p.m. Parish Scripture Service and an 8 p.m. Catnolic Order of Forester Rosary. Larkin-Martin-Huge-back Funeral Home, New Hampton, was in charge of arrangements.

Linus was born in St. Lucas on Feb. 19, 1918, the son of Victor and Mary (Schmitt) Croatt. He attended St. Luke’s School in St. Lucas. On June 9, 1941, he married Leona Huber at St. John's Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson. The couple lived and farmed 11/4 miles west of St. Lucas until they moved into St. Lucas in 1971. Linus was a licensed insurance agent. He established the Linus Croatt Insurance Agency in 1962 and sold the agency in 1992. He was a member of St. Luke's Catholic Church, Catholic Order of Foresters and was a Director for Farmers Mutual Insurance in Fayette. Linus enjoyed fishing, cracking walnuts, going out to the farm and spending time with his family.

Surviving are his wife, Leona; one son, Victor (Mary) Croatt, St. Lucas; one daughter, Joyce (Loras) Drilling, Wau-coma; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one brother, Nick (Eleanor) Croatt, St. Lucas.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a grandson, Robert John Croatt in 1971; one brother, John Croatt; two sisters, Rita Martin and Angeline Wenthold.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Mar. 13, 2001 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters