Marvin Walter Kroontje, 77, Magnolia, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, at his home.
A funeral service was Saturday, Jan. 11, at the First Baptist Church in Luverne. Burial followed in the Memory Gardens Cemetery near Luverne.
Marvin Kroontje was born to Wilbur and Susie (Tilstra) Kroontje on May 4, 1942, near Rock Rapids, Iowa. In 1948 he moved with his parents to a farm near Magnolia, where Marvin attended the Magnolia School. Upon completion of his education, he worked for several Rock County farmers.
Marvin married Vivian Steinfeldt in 1960. Following their marriage they lived in Magnolia where Marvin continued working on area farms. In 1963 they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Marvin worked for a water and sewer company and then Peers Bottling Company, selling and delivering Dr. Pepper and Royal Crown pop. He also worked at Gage Brothers Cement Company making prestressed bridge girders for the building of Interstate 90 through this area. In 1964 they moved to a farm near Magnolia and farmed for two years with his father and then for two years with a brother. In 1971 Marvin and Joyce divorced. Marvin then became employed at Iowa Beef Processors near Luverne.
On June 7, 1973, Marvin married Janice Tousley at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following their marriage, they lived in Magnolia. Marvin continued to work at IBP where he lugged beef for 10 years and spent 20 years loading beef, rolling on yield grade and sawing rib eye until his retirement in 1998. Janice preceded him in death on Feb. 8, 2016.
Marvin was a member of the First Baptist churches in Adrian and Luverne, where he served as trustee, song leader, and Sunday School teacher. He enjoyed fishing and gardening, and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Marvin is survived by his six children, Mark (Sue) Kroontje of Herreid, South Dakota, Vivian (John) Kroontje-Yurkin of Winona Lake, Indiana, William (Brenda) Kroontje of Ashton, Iowa, Trudy Schneidermann of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Darcy (Dougie) Lensing of Comfrey, and Robert (Becca) Kroontje of St. Paul; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; two brothers, Gerrit and Harriet Kroontje of Leota and John Kroontje of Kenneth; and a sister, Dorothy Ricehill of Luverne.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Janice; his parents; a grandson, Casey Schneidermann; a brother, Willie Kroontje; and a sister, Katherine Vastenhout.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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