Joseph W. Cronin

 

Joseph (Joe) Cronin, 84, of Marcus, Iowa, died Friday April 4, 2008, at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus, Iowa following a brief illness.

 

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday April 7, 2008 at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, Iowa.  Rev. Eugene Murray and Rev. Gene Sitzmann will officiate. Burial will be in the Maryhill Cemetery, rural Cherokee, Iowa.  Visitation will be Sunday at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, Iowa from 2:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M., with a Knights of Columbus rosary at 4:00 P.M. and a scripture service at 7:30 P.M.  Greenwood Funeral Home of Cherokee, Iowa is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

 

Joe was born on March 5, 1924 in Struble, Iowa to James and Vincentia (Collins) Cronin.  He graduated from Marcus Holy Name Catholic School in 1943.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946.  On May 29, 1950 he married Marie George at Maryhill Church rural Cherokee, Iowa.  Their greatest joy and accomplishment was raising their 12 children.  Marie preceded him in death on May 22, 1988.  Joe farmed near Marcus all of his life.  He loved the land, and never really retired from farming.  On November 3, 1990 he married Joan Theisen in Marcus, Iowa.  Joe enjoyed country drives, visiting his many friends, and spending time with his grandchildren and extended family.  His family will remember him by his faith in God, strong work ethic, and Irish heritage.  Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 

He is survived by his wife, Joan; eight daughters and four sons: Diane Herrmann and her husband, Thomas, of Cologne, MN; Mike Cronin and his wife, Pam, of Cleghorn, IA; Pat Cronin of Albert City, IA; Tim Cronin and his wife, Angela, of Meriden, IA; Jane Blee and her husband, Michael, of St. Cloud, MN; Kathy Essick and her husband, Ray, of Spencer, IA; Mark Cronin and his wife, Kim, of Marcus, IA; Nancy Gavin and her husband, Dean, of Carver, MN; Barbara Brady and her husband, Shawn, of Marcus, IA; Carla Muller and her husband, David, of Sergeant Bluff, IA; Beth Ireland and her husband, Paul, of Big Lake, MN; Amy Doud and her husband, Chris, of Spencer, IA; 32 grandchildren.  He is also survived by his 11 step-children; 33 step-grandchildren; 15 step great-grandchildren;  a sister, Mary Mai and her husband, Bob, of Remsen, IA; two brothers, Lloyd Cronin and his wife, Germaine, of Holstein, IA; Francis Cronin and his wife, Norma, of Holstein, IA; sisters-in-law, Merlyn Cronin of Marcus, IA; Paula Cronin of Marcus, IA; Ruth George of Cherokee, IA; Marilyn George Storbeck and her husband, John, of Aurelia, IA; Glenna George of Denison, IA.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Marie, two brothers, William and Kenneth Cronin, and a grandson Benjamin Muller.