John Cronek

From Christ Lutheran histories:

It has pleased Almighty God in His infinite wisdom to call out of this life the soul of His servant, John Bernhard Cronek. He was a son of Martin Cronek and his wife, Louise nee Fisher. He was born April 2, 1878 in Roemershof, Latvia, Baltic Province. His family emigrated to this country when he was a small boy and settled in Shakapee, MN. Here he attended the public school and was confirmed. As a young man he attended the Luther College and Seminary at Afton, MN, which school was later moved to St Paul. He was graduated from Luther Seminary in St Paul in 1898 and was ordained that year by Dr H Ernst, then Dean of the Seminary.

His first charge was at Wolverton, MN. In 1900 he was sent out west as a home missionary and organized congregations in Wilbur, Odessa, and Almira, WA. In 1905 he accepted a call to Immanuel [sic] Church in Reardan, WA, and from there also served St John Church in Medical Lake. In 1919 he accepted a call as missionary to Lewiston, Idaho. There he organized Trinity Church. For a number of terms he served as District President of the Washington District of the former Ohio Synod. In the year 1924 he accepted a call t Trinity Church, Bruning, Nebraska, where he served for 25 years. In September 1949 he followed a call to St Francis, Kansas, where he served Salem church for four years. He was active on the Board of Regents of Hebron College and the Board of Directors of Martin Luther Home, Sterling, NE. He has served a continuous ministry of 55 years since the time of his ordination. The Lord had endowed him with remarkable strength of body and spirit, which he devoted completely to the service of the church until two months prior to his decease, Nov 22, 1953.

On Feb 21, 1905, he was united in marriage with Camilla E Harms in Wilbur, WA. The Lord blessed this couple with four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest son, John E Cronek, preceded his father in death, Sept 17, 1927. He leaves to mourn his passing, his beloved wife, who has labored together with him in God’s vineyard for over 48 years; his son Theadore, of Cleveland, Ohio; his daughters, Mrs Rita Philippi, Omaha, NE, and Mrs Isabel Higgins, Glendale, CA; five grandchildren, and an aged sister in Spokane, WA. He attained the age of 75 years, 6 months and 20 days

May we rejoice with him in his blessed fellowship with Christ. Funeral services were held at Salem Lutheran Church Wednesday at 10 a.m. Officiating clergymen were Rev C L Hinkbouse, Denver, CO, vice-president of the Central District of the American Lutheran Church, who based his services on Malachi 2:5-7; Rev Luther A Sherer of Bird City, who spoke…” (scrapbook obit, bottom cut off: undated) {note: an obituary was also published in Bruning Banner dated 11-23-1953, as mentioned on the FindAGrave website.}

1910 Reardan, Lincoln Co, WA Census:

• Cronek, John B; head, 33, Russia, Immig. 1888, married, mother’s name: Louise Cronek
• Cronek, Camilla E; wife, 22,
• Cronek, Erhardt J; son, 4,
• Cronek, Theodore H; son, 2
• Cronek, Louse; mother, 77, Russia

1920 Medical Lake, Spokane Co, WA Census:

• Cronek, John B; head, 42, Russia, married
• Cronek, Camilla E; wife, 32
• Cronek, Erhardt J E; son, 13
• Cronek, Theodore H; son, 8
• Cronek, Rita E; dau, 8
• Cronek, Issabel B; dau, 2

1930 Bruning, Thayer Co, NE Census:

• Cronek, John B; head, 52, Russia, married, immig. 1885
• Cronek, Camilla; wife, 41
• Cronek, Rita; dau, 18
• Cronek, Isabel; dau, 12

Birth Records:

• “Theodor Helmuth Cronek. Birth: 1-17-1908, Lincoln Co, WA. Father: John B Cronek. Mother: Camilla Harms.”
• “Astrid Margarete Cronek. Birth: 7-26-1911, Lincoln Co, WA. Father: John Bernard Cronek. Mother: Camille E Barns (sic).”
• “John B Cronek. Birth: 4-02-1878. Death: 11-22-1953, age 75. Burial Place: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Bruning, Thayer Co, NE.” (FindAGrave website) {Camilla E Harms Cronek: 1888-1974; John Erhardt Cronek: 1906-1927. John Erhardt Cronek. Birth: 3-05-1906; Died: 9-17-1927; Bruning, Thayer Co, NE}}