Obituary of Betty Cronk

Clara E. “Betty” Cronk, age 72 former longtime Iowa City resident, died Thursday, May 20, 2004, at a care center in Boardman, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, May 23, 2004, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Iowa City with the Father Edmond Dunn officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 6pm Saturday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, and after 2pm Sunday until services at the church. A memorial fund has been established in her memory. Online condolences may be sent for Betty’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Clara Elizabeth (Welter) Cronk was born April 23, 1932 in Iowa City, the daughter of Nicholas and Clara (Vanourney) Welter. She graduated from St. Patrick High School and had attended the University of Iowa. Betty received her BA degree in Home Economics from the University of Iowa. She married Clifford R. Cronk in 1952 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Her family was her world whom she loved, and they loved her very much as well. The other passion in Betty’s life was her music. Betty shared her love of music through concert performances, teaching, dance accompaniment, and playing for family and friends. Her family includes daughters, Judy Cronk and her husband, Keith of San Jose, CA, Lisa Ross and her husband, Dave of Warren, OH, Marta Hopkins and her husband, Tim of Huntington Beach, CA, Andrea O’Brien of San Jose, CA, Rachel Cronk of West Branch, IA, Monica Hosfelt and her husband, Jason of Garden Grove, CA and Natalie Cronk of Iowa City; sons, Cliff Cronk and his wife, Linda of Bettendorf, IA, Ken Cronk and his wife, Hariven of Huntington Beach, CA, Chris Cronk and his wife, Shaun Hawkins of North Plains, Oregon, Dennis Cronk and his wife, Leah of Iowa City, and Tom Cronk and his wife, Katie of North Liberty; eighteen grandchildren; two sisters, Catharine Burke of Iowa City, Louise Wade of Seattle, WA, and two brothers, Nick “Bud” Welter of Marshalltown, and Steve Welter of Mahomet, IL. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and an infant son, Philip Cronk.