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People we remember
Biographies are where we share about family & friends to connect with others who remember them.
Pam Marks:
Ever the student, Frank was always thirsty for knowledge. He would look at anything - physical or situational - and figure out how it works, and what could be done better. He saw a future of where things were headed having been involved with the first concepts of credit cards, to using steel instead of wood for home building.
He lied about his age to join the Navy in World War 2 (See Frank Kroetch: Military Service for more details.) and lost hearing in one ear because he was a "spotter" for the guns on the USS Killen. (Another note from Kathy: I remember he was a spotter on the big guns - the Killen was a destroyer - because of a story he told. The US had just developed a plane that looked a LOT like the Japanese planes. So when he saw the new US plane above them, he told them to move the gun to hit the plane. He narrowly realized that it was our plane and had them move the gun just in time. He was almost responsible for shooting down one of our own - and he was embarrassed by that.) A few years after the war he married Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch (from 1949 through July 1968) and they had and raised two daughters Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna and Pam (Kroetch) Marks in San Jose (Willow Glen), Cupertino California (where he was a councilman), Seattle, Washington (the University District) and Saratoga CA.
In 1965, Frank met Carol (Antonsen) Kroetch who had a 5 year old child, John Hugh Kroetch. He and Carol married in December of 1968 and they were married until his death in 2001. He had two families for some time - one living in Saratoga CA and the other in Carmel, CA (although the only legal family until 1968 was the Saratoga family)
He lived in Washington state for the last three decades of his life and travelled to California frequently to be with his daughters and grandchildren and to pursue business deals.
He was the patriarch of his family and passed away suddenly sitting in his chair. (Note from Kathy: I was never told the actual events by Carol. What I 'heard" secondhand: Dad had driven from Bellingham (in the northern end of Washington state) to Olympia (the southern end of Washington state) that day. He had been feeling ill for some time. When he got home, he had eaten dinner and after dinner, he sat in "his" chair. He then asked Carol for a cookie. She went to the kitchen and returned with the cookie - and Dad had already suffered a cardiac event. Carol called emergency services but they were unable to revive him. Several hours later, I received a telephone call from a man who identified himself as the fire captain for Bellingham. He told me that Dad had died but declined to give me any details. I never heard more than that.
Kathy Pinna:
Remembering Dad on the 20th anniversary of his passing - Since I was blessed to have my father in my life for a little over half a century, I have many memories of him as a father and grandfather. I will add some of these stories at another time but tonight, I want to focus on what he did for me and who he meant to me - and how he has helped me deal with loneliness as an elderly person. It's a odd but true fact that people who are only a part of our lives have lasting impressions on who we are and what we become.
When I was in my 30's and the single mother of a toddler, my Dad and I were talking one evening. He told me something that I'd never heard before: When I was born (I was his first-born), he looked and me and thought I can pick her up and walk off, just the two of us, and live by ourselves. We are family. He had tears in his eyes as he said this. (Perhaps the impact on him was strong because his own mother had died when he was 5, his father was gone finding work - it was the Depression - and his mother's family didn't "approve" of his father, so he was sent to live with his mother's relatives. He was passed around after that and never truly had a safe, stable family.)
Dad may have never told me that before, but he always made me feel special and welcome. It may sound odd to say it that way, but it's a true blessing when someone treats you as a welcome presence in his or her life. When they have a smile on their face, in their eyes, and in their voice when they see you or talk to you. When they want to have you around. When they include you in their daily lives. These are important things - especially when you are young. And I have lots of memories of doing things with my Dad. Of feeling that I was never interrupting and that I was a welcome presence in his life. This continued until the day he died - he loved me and showed it by his happiness when he was with me or talking to me. (As adults, we mostly lived in different states but we kept in touch through telephone conversations. How he would have loved Facetime or Zoom - especially after his grandson was born!)
As a child, I just knew that my Daddy loved me - and more importantly, that he liked me. But now? I am elderly and often spend weekends and holidays alone - those times that are not taken up by work and daily chores. But because of my father and his love and acceptance, I don't think or feel that I'm "unlovable." He gave me the self-confidence to see this as choices that others make, not a deficit in me. And for that, I say "Thank you Dad." You are a daily presence in my life even 2 decades after you have left this earth.
Linnea Wells Cashmore:
Mom was a wonderful, loving wife and mother who was very spiritual and kind. She and Dad brought us up in the Lutheran church. Both of her parents were of full-blooded Swedish heritage of which Mom was quite proud. While Dad worked hard at being a farmer and later a mechanic and factory worker, Mom took care of we 3 kids and our home. She was very creative in home decoration and was an excellent seamstress, crocheter and knitter. She baked homemade Swedish limpa rye bread, cakes, pies, etc. She and Larry loved antiques and music, especially classical. Mom played the piano and chord organ. She and Dad had 4 children: Virginia, Larry, Sheila and me, Linnea. Virginia died at age 2 of mosquito-borne encephalitis. Larry became Mom's favorite. We 3 kids were encouraged to attend college, which we all did. Our family was devastated when in her 50's she began showing signs of what would be determined to be early onset Alzheimer's disease, something that in the early 1970's we'd never heard of. She spent 1 year at home and 2 years in the nursing home prior to being released into Heaven where lives now, whole and healed. We miss her.
Jan Robertson:
John was my baby brother. After John graduated he spent the summer with me in Minneapolis and after he returned to Ivanhoe he would visit me. We had a good relationship. We would go shopping, go to antique stores near Ivanhoe, casino by Pipestone, and just visiting, etc. I would talk to him everyday. I miss John and love him. I wish he was still with us. May God be kind to his soul, RIP.
Adena Harmon:
John was partner to Farrell. Both were great friends during a time when the world felt “crazy fun.” Every year, Razzle Dazzle was one of the most exciting times and I've been reflecting on those years a lot lately. Friends from New Mexico, Colorado, and Michigan would arrive in town, and Linda and I would host unforgettable parties.
Since you loved nursing, Linda and I were honored to have thrown a MAS*H-themed party. There were hot air balloon rides in Taos, and our favorite moments were dining at The Steak Out, watching the sun set between two mountains while a young man strummed his classical guitar.
John, you were a special guy. I mean—what girl could truly say she’d lived if she didn’t know who Divine was?
I would’ve crossed the desert barefoot just to make sure you and Farrell were safe. We faced too many dangerous haters each time we left a restaurant, a club, or a theater. Nights we would kiss and bandage wounds of our neighbors. But in the end, it wasn’t the crowds that stopped us—it was the fear of AIDS that brought everything to a halt.
And your diagnosis was devastating. But you managed to care for your sweet mom until she passed. You were truly a blessing.
In time we become hand-holders, caregivers, storytellers—whatever it meant to be the hands of Christ in our community.
I will carry our friendship with me to the other side.
Linnea Wells Cashmore:
Memories of my Dad, Delbert Martin Riepe. - My Dad had a hard life likely all of his life, though I don't know a lot of his childhood years. I do know that he always wanted to be a farmer, which Dad pursued for many years though true success at it eluded him. He loved his wife and children and always brought his paycheck home for us. He was a quiet person most of the time, but loved to chat, joke and laugh in social situations with extended family and friends. My cousin Steve once confided that Dad was his favorite uncle because of his entertaining sense of humor. Also, Dad loved to tease Mom and get her to laugh, which all of us kids enjoyed. When my Dad got cleaned up with the help of Brylcreem and Old Spice shaving lotion, and dressed up in his best clothes I always thought he was so handsome, resembling Ronald Reagan. Those occasions were rare because he worked from sun-up until past sun-down, coming home exhausted. I don't think Dad got the full respect he should have gotten from we three kids while we lived at home, in part due to the hold that alcohol had on him which sometimes caused problems at home between him and Mom. I'm sure our neglect must have hurt him. Dad stuck with all of us, and I'm very grateful for that, especially since Mom loved and really needed his help once her early-onset Alzheimer's Disease showed up. When Dad and I parted in 1975, we didn't know we'd never see one another again in this life, but that's what happened. He's living in Heaven with Mom.
Catherine Ashenfelter-Villane:
Russell S. Ashenfelter, Sr. was my dad. - My dad passed when I was 30 years old. Unfortunately, I didn't know much about my dad. He was serving his country (WWII, Korea, and Vietnam) all of my life up to the age of 17. Dad didn't talk about his childhood or military service. I would give anything to know more about the man he was, his family history, and military experiences.
What I do know from the little time we shared, dad has a since of humor, loved nature, and was a proud man. He loved my sons, leaving them with memories they still recall even though they were 4 and 3 years old.
My dad was intelligent, hardworking, and his penmanship was breath, he was an accomplished reader. He joined the Navy in 1944 or early 1945.
I would love to hear from anyone who can share their knowledge, stories, and events about my dad, (Russell Stanley Ashenfelter, SR.).
Contact Catherine at [contact link] or call (719) 233-5966.
Wendy Geib-Reitz:
Daniel"Bud" Geib ( My Father) - One time I went to the parts store with My Father I was six years old . The cashier lady asked if he was my grandpa and if I was having fun and I said " NOPE THATS MY DAD AND YES IM HAVING FUN IM WITH MY DAD." I didn't realize at six that my dad looked as if he was my grandpa he always looked like my Dad! I love him and miss him dearly .
Tammy Kerwood:
Time with Tom and Myrtle Tyvand - Tom was married to Myrtle King Tyvand. They had 2 sons, Thomas H. Tyvand Sr. and Courtney Tyvand. I went to school with Tom Jr. I made many trips to their home. I enjoyed joining them for dinner, gardening, wine tasting. Tom was an avid maker of wine. I recall him making grape, red and white, cherry, strawberry and more. He was a veteran and worded for GTE when met him and Myrtlle in 1975. I boarded my horse at their 7 acre property complete with a barn. They loved animals, particularly cats. They had 2 during the 30 plus years I was in tgeir company. They kept them into old age 18 and 16 years. Myrtle was like a do all around everything from splitting wood, smoking salmon, handpainting China and a master chef. She volunteered at Friendshp House, a daycare for children and an early learning center thru kindergarten. Tom's favorite past time was hearing of her daily adventures and wine making he was a wonderful husband and father. He was tall, dark, and handsome. He and Myrtle were full of humor, kindness, intelligent and a picture of a successful marriage. I feel blessed to have been part of it. I loved them and miss them.. They were down to earth and accessible. They were unique respected, well liked and never stayed from who they were. I am better for knowing them. Tom was an outstanding role model for his sons, as was Myrtle. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share a glimpse into their lives.
Javier Rodriguez:
He was my grandfather. - He was a great man and taught us the meaning of life. Taught his grandsons how to work hard and how to do things around the ranch country that is a forgotten talent these days. He lived a lifetime that many of us can only dream of. He saw the growth of Edinburg Tx from a small community into a prosperous city. Miss him dearly!
Natisha Brooks-Collier-Hall:
Fannie Sampson was my paternal grandmother. She owned several businesses including laundromats as well as many acres of land. This was unheard of at the time because she was black. She adopted my father (Clarence) when he was a baby and showered him with love. Big mama Fannie was a beautiful smart, witty, strong, opinionated woman who always stood for right. She loved her grandkids and had us spoiled.
Michael Bruza:
A beautiful ray of light - Gloria touched so many lives in profound ways. Her smile, laugh and happiness was contagious. Her creativity was boundless. She was able to use her art to inspire everyone she interacted with. For her children, she was their North Star and in many ways, still is.
