Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Cronk, Francis W. Sr. 2006 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net August 15, 2010, 5:19 pm The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Tuesday, December 19, 2006 Francis W. Cronk Sr., of Ionia, passed away December 15, 2006 in Ionia. Francis was born to Glenzo and Heneretta E. Cronk on October 7, 1916 in Ionia. Francis lived most of his life in Ionia. He worked at many types of jobs during the wars and Depression to keep food on the table for his and many other families. To name a few, he worked at Mitchell-Bentley, Peske’s Packing Plant, but the one he talked about most was boat building. In 1946 he went to work on the assembly line at General Motors and worked his way up to journeyman in fixture repair skilled trades, from which he retired in 1976 to lovingly care of his invalid wife for the next 20 years until her death. Francis was a hard worker with a unique hobby, which gave him much joy, that was to help his family or others. If someone was in need he not only provided food and heat, he repaired every thing from vehicles, plumbing electrical, wells and others. If he didn’t know how to fix it he would learn. He always made his family proud because he not only preached it’s better to give than receive, he lived it daily throughout his life. Francis is survived by his children and their spouses: Francis (Darb) Cronk Jr., (Judy) of Mackinaw City, Beverly Hodgkins (Richard) of Ionia, Richard Cronk (Sara) of Ionia, Wanda Marcussen of Ionia, Robert L. Cronk (Bonnie) of Clarksville, 24 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Rosella Ballard of Lansing, and his sister-in-law, Helen Morrison of Saranac, along with many nieces and nephews. Francis was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Cleobelle, in 1996; sons, Glenn and John; son-in-law, Jerry Marcussen; grandchildren, Kacee and Heather Cronk, Shawn Cronk and great-grandson Neil Smejkal; brothers, Kenneth and James Cronk; sisters, Marvel Miller, Lucille Monks, Mildred Lindsley and Alfrena Cronk. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 20, at Lake Funeral Home in Ionia with visitation Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. He will be laid to rest at Balcom Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ionia Commission on Aging or the Lake Odessa Community Ambulance. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/c/cronk7955nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 2.8 Kb