Dorothy A. Kroenke, 92, of Shawano, died on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, in the town of Belle Plaine.
Dorothy was born on Aug. 13, 1922, in Shawano, the daughter of the late David and Aurelia (Moede) Beversdorf. She grew up on a farm and as a teenager was the Shawano County Dairy Princess as well as earning a scholarship to the Teacher’s College at Stevens Point, where she worked in the college library. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she returned home to work.
On Feb. 13, 1943, Dorothy was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Irvin Kroenke, with whom she shared 70 years of marriage. Irvin preceded her in death on June 3, 2013. Dorothy was a loving and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, friend, relative, and member of her church and community. She loved life and her family and had a gentle way of helping and encouraging others. She was always the “go-to” person who not only cooked the meals for the family but also for the farm and building crews. She also kept the books and ran for parts and materials for the family business.
Dorothy loved children and was the babysitter of choice and the preferred sick caregiver for her grandchildren. She was an avid reader and lover of music, films, poetry, square dancing, bird watching, trips to the cabin, attending the games and concerts of her grandchildren, and sharing meals or a good laugh with family and friends. Dorothy enjoyed reciting the poems of Robert Service, Poet of the Yukon, and felt a special connection to Alaska where she travelled on two occasions. She also loved music and faithfully attended the first 34 years of the Shawano Folk Music Festival.
Dorothy, Mom, Grandma, Great-Grandma: We miss you and your positive gentle loving spirit. Rest in peace.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Kathy (Dennis) Fonger, Michael (Val McQuade) Kroenke and Joel Kroenke, all of Shawano; six grandchildren, Tanya (Dave) Jensen, Jason (Christy) Fonger, Seth (Jeelan) Kroenke, Shannon Kroenke, Sara Kroenke and Ryan Kroenke; nine great-grandchildren, Hunter, Morgan, and Trevor Jensen, Logan, Ashlyn, Mason and Sierra Kroenke, Tessa Fonger and Taylor Habeck. She is further survived by two sisters, Deloris (Jack) Bain, of Menomonee Falls, and Jean (Ray) Klebesadel, of Green Bay; as well as one brother-in-law, Robert Etchner.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin; her parents; two sisters, Phyllis Echtner and Mary Beversdorf; and one brother-in-law, Don Moesch.
A memorial service for Dorothy will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, at St. Jakobi Lutheran Church in the town of Richmond with the Rev. Travis Keinschmidt officiating. Burial will be in St. Jakobi Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the memorial service. Gifts in memory of Dorothy can be made to the following: Shawano County Historical Society Country Church Fund, St. Jakobi Lutheran Church Building Fund or Shawano County 4-H program.
The family would like to extend sincere thanks to Mary Schroeder, Val McQuade, Wendy Nizinski and the other staff at Maple Lane Nursing Home as well as Heartland Hospice Care for their kindness and support. We would also like to thank all the others who shared songs and prayers or otherwise touched Dorothy’s life in special ways.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
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