Tribute; Carolyn Marie (Heitman) Cronrath

Carolyn Cronrath was born to Louis and Marie (Brammer) Heitmann October 27, 1926, in Gifford, Idaho.

She graduated from Gifford High School in 1944. After high school, she worked as a secretary for Buckley State Custodial School until entering Kinman Business College in Spokane and graduating December 21, 1945. She attended Pacific Lutheran College in Parkland, Wash. for spring semester 1946. In late 1946, she went to work for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph in Yakima as a service representative.

In summer 1951, she attended a young adult retreat at Lutherhaven in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where she met Daniel Cronrath, a seminary student. After a year of courtship, they were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lewiston on June 6, 1952. They lived in Lewiston for several months before moving to Dubuque, Iowa where Dan finished his education at Wartburg Seminary. Carolyn worked for a few months at Stampfer’s Department Store as a clerk until an opening at Crescent Electric Co. became available as a bookkeeper. She continued to work until two days before the birth of her first son, Mark August 13, 1953, at which time she chose to become a homemaker. Upon Dan’s graduation, they moved to Earlville, Iowa where he was pastor of a two-point parish. While living here, Carolyn had two more children, Keith, born March 10, 1955, and Nathan born two years later on March 8, 1957.

Then in August of 1957, Dan accepted a call to Hope Luther Church in Everly, Iowa. It was here that Carolyn had her fourth and final child, Marie January 24, 1959. She had her hands full raising four rambunctious children while fulfilling all the duties of a pastor’s wife.

They would move to Dan’s last call of service to Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa, Wash., in December 1967. In 1991, when Dan retired, they moved to Lewiston to be near Carolyn’s family.

Throughout her life, Carolyn devoted time and energy to family, friends, assisting Dan in his ministry, and helping others no matter how big or small the task. She was full of life and energy, making an impact on people’s lives wherever she went. She loved quilting, family genealogy, pickikng up cans for Lutheran World Relief, walking with friends and entertaining at home.

Carolyn went to be with her Lord and Savior February 7, 2014, passing away peacefully at Royal Plaza Retirement Center from cancer. Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Dan; parents, Louis and Marie Heitmann; four brothers, Albert, Norbert, Clifford and George; and three sisters, Dorothy, Adetha and Georgene.

She is survived by three sons, Mark (Dorris) Cronrath and grandchildren Kysa and Matthew, Keith (Joanne) Cronrath and grandchildren Brian and Erik (Hannah), Nathan (Wendy) Cronrath and grandchildren Christine (Aaron) Spence and Ryan; daughter Marie (Joe) Grasso and grandchildren Dominic and Mia; and one brother Jim (LaVonne) Heitmann; brother-in-law Pete Smith; and sister-in-law Millie Heitmann.

Carolyn was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend who will be greatly missed.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 15, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 920 Eighth Ave., Lewiston. A Committal service will be at Good Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Gifford when the weather improves.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Lutheran World Relief Hunger or a charity of one’s choosing.