Laura Anne (Kienke) Cronk Wilson

Laura Anne Cronk Wilson was born March 24, 1928 to Ernest W. and Gertrude C. (Propst) Kienke at Burton, NE. She passed away on August 19, 2023 at Sandhills Care Center at Ainsworth, NE. Laura Anne was raised north of Springview, NE. She and her four sisters attended Liberty School #17. Laura Anne chose to serve God as a teenager and kept true to her vows to God. She graduated from Keya Paha County High School in Springview in 1946 and then taught at District #45 for a year. Laura Anne received a scholarship to Grand Island Business College and attended school there in 1947 and 1948.
On October 2, 1948, Laura Anne married Lowell M. Cronk. She taught school for two more years. Lowell and Laura Anne had six children. Lowell passed away July 23, 1998. Laura Anne later married Algot F. Wilson on December 21, 2002. They enjoyed ten good years together. Al passed away on October 2, 2012. Laura Anne was always busy caring for her family, gardening, making quilts, making rugs, and keeping the yard like a park. Her trust in God’s plan for her life sustained her to the end.
Laura Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Gertrude Keinke; husbands, Lowell Cronk and Al Wilson; grandson, Waylen McKnight; granddaughters, Amy Yung and Jasmarie Cronk, and her sisters, Verna Appleman and Evelyn Snow.
Left to mourn Laura Anne are her children, Morris and Jeanie Cronk of Ft. Laramie, WY, Lillian and Morgan Jensen of Evans, CO, Chuck and Donna Oaks of Choctaw, OK, David and Dawn Cronk of Torrington, WY, Ruth and Jack McKnight of Torrington, WY, Kat and Jim Dowley of Green River, WY, Stephen and Judy Cronk of Springview, and Drayton and Sherry Cronk of Springview; 27 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandsons; two sisters, Donnabelle Leonhardt of Riverton, WY and Eunice Skinner of Napa, CA; one brother-in-law, John Appleman of Johnstown, NE; along with many nieces, nephews, other family members and dear friends.


Funeral Services were held Monday, August 28, 2023 at Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth with Roy Williams, Lara Wilhoit and Lyle Fisher officiating at the service. Prelude and postlude music was provided by Cynthia Yung, who also accompanied the congregational selections of “He’s The One”, “If All Things Were Mine” and “It’s So Strange”, which was performed at Mount Olive Cemetery in Mills, Nebraska during interment following the funeral service. Casket Bearers were Stanley Cronk, Trevor Modaff, Eric Nelson, Matt Call, Verlyn Jons and Gary Ross. Memorials are suggested to the Keya Paha County Foundation in Laura Anne’s name. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com .