Emilene Kroon, age 81, of Steen, Minnesota, died peacefully Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota.
Visitation was Sept. 4 from 5-7 p.m. with the family present at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Funeral was at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Steen Reformed Church in Steen, Minnesota. Burial followed at Eastside Cemetery near Steen.
Emilene Gertrude Kroon was born Jan. 1, 1943, in Hull, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Catherine (Faber) Van Hill. Her mother, Catherine, died when she was nine years old, and her father later married Alice Veldkamp. She attended Highland Independent Country School in Rock Rapids, obtained her GED from American School in 1963, then graduated from Stewart’s Cosmetology School on June 15, 1964.
On Sept. 4, 1964, Emilene was united in marriage to John Kroon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They lived in Steen, moved to California for a couple of years, before returning to make their home on a farm near Steen. To this union three children were born, Kristy, Vicki, and Jason. Emilene was a beautician for many years. Emilene and John also cleaned the terminal building at McCormick Transportation.
In the past, Emilene was on a bowling league and was on the same softball team as her two daughters. She enjoyed knitting and sewing, going to garage sales and auctions, watching her husband at the car races, gardening and canning, and loved making a good meal for guests. She enjoyed time spent with her family. They remember her as being a determined redhead. She will be greatly missed.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of nearly 60 years, John; daughters, Kristy (Randy) Goembel of Luverne, Minnesota, and Vicki (Bruce) Bennett of Weare, New Hampshire; grandchildren Matthew Goembel (Breanna), Luverne, Minnesota, Seth Goembel (Krista), Brandon, South Dakota, Sara Bolt (Chris), Luverne, Minnesota, Elias Bennett (fiancée Katherine), Eureka, Illinois, Kylie Bennett, Weare, New Hampshire, Dallas Kroon, Mankato, Minnesota, Chelsea Tacke, Yankton, South Dakota, Dillan Kroon (Annie), Steen, Minnesota; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers Donald (Sandy) Harms and Alan (Jody) Van Hill; sister-in-law Diane Van Hill; along with many extended family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Catherine Van Hill; son, Jason John Kroon; stepmother, Alice Harms Van Hill; and brother, Wilbert Van Hill.
Blessed be her memory.
