1927
John
2015
John Cronin
January 21, 1927 — October 31, 2015
John "Jack" Carroll Cronin, age 88, of Detroit Lakes, passed away on Saturday, October 31 at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, ND. A memorial service will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, November 5 at St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes, MN. A visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, November 4 at David Donehower Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.
Jack was born January 21, 1927 in St. Michael's Hospital, Grand Forks, ND to John E and Kathryn M (Carroll) Cronin of rural Thompson, ND. He is older brother to Margaret (Peggy) Breton and Darlyne Fortin, who survive him, both of Grand Forks. He was married June 10, 1952 in St. Timothy's of Manvel, ND to Catherine M Sweeney. Jack attended one room school for early grades then lived with his maternal grandparents in Grand Forks, graduating from Central High School where he had been active in the orchestra and choir. Jack was a self-taught master electrician and worked for American Crystal Sugar of East Grand Forks and the Grand Forks Public Schools as Chief Electrician. He also served on the Lake Region Electric Board and had his own electrical business. After marriage Jack lived on his uncle's farm in rural Thompson. In the early 1960s he moved his young family to Thompson and rebuilt the Methodist parsonage. He later built a retirement home on Lake Eunice, near Detroit Lakes, MN. and at that time became an active member of the Lake Eunice Lake Association. Jack was an excellent woodworker building cabinetry for several of the family homes, small furniture items, and mantel clocks. He was a 4H leader for his sons and had a passion for teaching people to water ski. He was an active "small town citizen" and took his turn at roles such as town cop and parent chaperone. He was an active member of Saint Mary of the Lakes. He took pride in his Irish heritage and dual citizenship. There was always a radio on in the car and a way to pay for music interests. Jack loved to drive cars, boats, snowmobiles, tractors, R.V.s, greatly preferring anything motorized to his childhood Shetland pony. He explored the continental United States with his wife, mother, and children in a pickup camper he built. Later, Jack and Catherine traveled to Europe and remote destinations, like the Panama Canal. Jack is survived by children; Carol (Charles) Bruzzone, David (Nancy) Cronin and Patrick (Dawn) Cronin, grandchildren; Rachel (S. Douglas Olson) Bruzzone and Daniel (Jessica Buchholz) Bruzzone, John (Christie) Cronin, Crystal Cronin, Brian (Becky) Cronin, Laura (Tony) Schanilec, and Justin (Sadie) Cronin great-grandchildren; KayLynn Cronin, Cammie and Jack Cronin, Aubrey and Drew Cronin and Avery Schanilec. In addition to his sisters, Jack is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. Jack was predeceased by his parents, wife Catherine on April 28, 2015 and their infant son Robert John Cronin. The family wants to express their thanks for the loving and exceptional care Jack received at Fairmont Eventide in Moorhead and Villa Maria in Fargo. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to Alzheimer and hospice charities of their choice. David-Donehower Funeral Home is serving the family.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Service
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Jack was born January 21, 1927 in St. Michael's Hospital, Grand Forks, ND to John E and Kathryn M (Carroll) Cronin of rural Thompson, ND. He is older brother to Margaret (Peggy) Breton and Darlyne Fortin, who survive him, both of Grand Forks. He was married June 10, 1952 in St. Timothy's of Manvel, ND to Catherine M Sweeney. Jack attended one room school for early grades then lived with his maternal grandparents in Grand Forks, graduating from Central High School where he had been active in the orchestra and choir. Jack was a self-taught master electrician and worked for American Crystal Sugar of East Grand Forks and the Grand Forks Public Schools as Chief Electrician. He also served on the Lake Region Electric Board and had his own electrical business. After marriage Jack lived on his uncle's farm in rural Thompson. In the early 1960s he moved his young family to Thompson and rebuilt the Methodist parsonage. He later built a retirement home on Lake Eunice, near Detroit Lakes, MN. and at that time became an active member of the Lake Eunice Lake Association. Jack was an excellent woodworker building cabinetry for several of the family homes, small furniture items, and mantel clocks. He was a 4H leader for his sons and had a passion for teaching people to water ski. He was an active "small town citizen" and took his turn at roles such as town cop and parent chaperone. He was an active member of Saint Mary of the Lakes. He took pride in his Irish heritage and dual citizenship. There was always a radio on in the car and a way to pay for music interests. Jack loved to drive cars, boats, snowmobiles, tractors, R.V.s, greatly preferring anything motorized to his childhood Shetland pony. He explored the continental United States with his wife, mother, and children in a pickup camper he built. Later, Jack and Catherine traveled to Europe and remote destinations, like the Panama Canal. Jack is survived by children; Carol (Charles) Bruzzone, David (Nancy) Cronin and Patrick (Dawn) Cronin, grandchildren; Rachel (S. Douglas Olson) Bruzzone and Daniel (Jessica Buchholz) Bruzzone, John (Christie) Cronin, Crystal Cronin, Brian (Becky) Cronin, Laura (Tony) Schanilec, and Justin (Sadie) Cronin great-grandchildren; KayLynn Cronin, Cammie and Jack Cronin, Aubrey and Drew Cronin and Avery Schanilec. In addition to his sisters, Jack is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and in-laws. Jack was predeceased by his parents, wife Catherine on April 28, 2015 and their infant son Robert John Cronin. The family wants to express their thanks for the loving and exceptional care Jack received at Fairmont Eventide in Moorhead and Villa Maria in Fargo. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations to Alzheimer and hospice charities of their choice. David-Donehower Funeral Home is serving the family.
Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501
Previous Events
VisitationWednesday, November 4, 2015
4:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
David-Donehower Funeral Home
609 Hwy 10 East
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Thursday, November 5, 2015
11:00 AM
St. Mary of the Lakes
20996 Co Hwy 20
Rural Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Visitation one hour prior to the service
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