Rose G. Kroening died November 16, 2010 at St. Elizabeth Hospital with family and caregivers at her side. She was born June 8, 1919, daughter of the late Reinhard and Ella (Pautz) Grimm. She attended Brookside School and St. John St James Lutheran School and graduated from Reedsville High School with the class of 1937. Rose married Elmer Kroening September 4, 1937. They farmed in the town of Maple Grove and Elmer preceded her in death on November 5, 1984. Rose was a lifelong member of St. John St. James Lutheran Church and a 65+ year member of the Ladies Aid. She was a member and past president of the Manitowoc County Extension Homemakers, now titled Home and Community Education. She served as East District HCE chairman and helped organize her local club, Brookside Homemakers. She was a member and secretary of the first Manitowoc County Committee on Aging. Rose was especially proud when at age 80 she was a mentor for the First Book program, where volunteers read books to the young children in Head Start and they presented the books to the children to encourage lifetime reading. With all her activities she found time for her large flower garden, which was her pride and joy. Rose is survived by her daughters, Ruth Ann(Ken) Jaeger, Appleton, Rosemary Kroening, Appleton and Kay (Ron) Hinkens, Kaukauna; five grandsons, Jef (Michelle) Jaeger, Paul (Dawn) Jaeger, Brian (Natalie) Jaeger, Barry Jaeger and Joe (Laura) Hinkens; two great-grandsons Maxx and Dorian Jaeger. Her sisters, Doris Polzin, Karen Blish, Manitowoc and Fern Wolf, Green Bay; her brothers Victor (Verona) Grimm, Reinie (Joan) Grimm all of Reedsville and Ron (Lynn) Grimm, Branch, her dear neighbors, Ted and Ruth Smucker and sons Brian & Eric, nieces, nephews and many friends. Rose was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers Lloyd and Fritz, and a sister Ethel. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 20 at NOON at St. John St. James Lutheran Church in Reedsville. The Rev. Timothy Nommensen will officiate. Burial will take place in the West Side Cemetery, Reedsville. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service. The Wieting Funeral Home in Reedsville is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.wieting-funeralhome.com. The family thanks the many friends and relatives who kept Mom company with phone calls, letters, visits, etc. during her widow years, with special thanks to the Crestwood Sheelin Cottage caregivers.
