Clarence Mark 'Jack' Kroah

STOUGHTON-Clarence Mark (Jack) Kroah passed away Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, after a long and increasingly debilitating illness. He was born Sept. 15, 1925, in Elizabethville, Pa., to Clarence Mark Kroah and Edna Berry Kroah. He graduated from Tower City High School in 1943 and lied about his age in order to join the U.S. Marine Corp in support of the war effort. He saw combat in the Central Pacific during World War II. After the war, Jack made his way to Saginaw, Mich., where he worked for the Pere Marquette Railroad as a brakeman, moving and switching freight during the course of his employment years between Ludington, Grand Rapids, Port Huron, Detroit, Toledo, and Bad Axe. He retired as a conductor from CSX, the Pere Marquette’s successor company, in September 1985. Jack married Ellen Ethel Minnich in Saginaw, Mich., on April 19, 1947. He enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his life. In retirement, Jack became active in Salina Lodge #155 of Free and Accepted Masons in Saginaw serving as Master of the Lodge in 1995 and the circulation manager of the monthly newsletter for the Masonic organizations in Saginaw County. He was especially active in the Masonic Service Association and served as a volunteer working with patients at Saginaw Veterans Hospital for 17 years. In recognition of his long-term dedicated service, Jack was named Mason of the Year among the Saginaw Lodges in 1999. A member of Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church for over 25 years he became a member of First Baptist Church, Saginaw, in 2000. Jack leaves his wife, Ellen, of 64 years; two children, son, Larry A. Kroah of Trenton, N. J., and daughter, Jacquelyn Ann (Thomas) Roberts of Marshall, Wis.; two sisters, Mrs. Jean (Warren) Manbeck of Terre Haute, Ind., and Mrs. Ruth (Monte L.) Kopp of Tower City, Pa; and five granddaughters, Lisa (Roderick) Gauvin of Dallas, Texas, Mary (Nathaniel) Putnam of Seattle, Wash., and Tricia, Nancy and Lynn Roberts of Marshall, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Kroah and Edna Berry Kroah; and step-father, Warren Miller. A memorial service will be held at Door Creek Church, 6602 Dominion Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, with Pastor Calvin Steiner presiding. A visitation and luncheon will follow at the church. Interment will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Mich. at a date and time to be determined by the family. Memorials may be made to Door Creek Church or Rescue Mission in Saginaw. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral & Cremation Care 1358 Highway 51 (608) 873-4590 www.gundersonfh.com Cemetery: Interment will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Saginaw, Mich. at a date and time to be determined by the family. Memorials may be made to Door Creek Church or Rescue Mission in Saginaw. A visitation and luncheon will follow at the church. A memorial service will be held at Door Creek Church, 6602 Dominion Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m., on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, with Pastor Calvin Steiner presiding.