Janice Kroontje

Janice C. Kroontje, 70, formerly of Magnolia, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at the Sanford Jackson Medical Center in Jackson.
A funeral service was Saturday, Feb. 13, at the First Baptist Church in Luverne. Burial was in the Memory Gardens Cemetery near Luverne.
Janice Carol Tousley was born Jan. 24, 1946, to Russell and Ellen (Allen) Tousley on the family farm in rural Carson City, Michigan, where she was raised. She attended Butternut Country School and later graduated from Carson City High School in 1964. Janice attended Central Michigan University for two years and then attended Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music for three years. Following her education she worked four years with Child Evangelism Fellowship as a summer missionary, then four years at St. John’s Home for emotionally disturbed children in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Janice married Marvin Kroontje on June 7, 1973, in Magnolia. Following their marriage, Janice joined Marvin and his five children at their home in Magnolia. Due to her health, Janice moved to the Colonial Manor nursing home in Lakefield Dec. 6, 2011.
Janice was a member of the First Baptist Church in Luverne, where she enjoyed being involved with the prayer chain, Bible studies, and a Ministry for Mothers of premature babies. She also loved crocheting dolls and gifts for her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Marvin; six children, Mark (Sue) Kroontje of Herreid, South Dakota, Vivian Griffin of Winona Lake, Indiana, William (Brenda) Kroontje of Ashton, Iowa, Trudy Schneiderman of Luverne, Darcy Lensing of Comfrey, and Robert (Becca) Kroontje of St. Paul; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Paul Tousley and Joyce Awad.
Arrangements were by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
(0218 F)