Leona Gronke

WEBSTER- Leona Gronke, 76 of Webster died on Monday, August 6, 2007 at Sanford Hospital in Webster. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 11, 2007 at Christ The King Catholic Church in Webster, with burial in St. Otto’s Cemetery. Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster on Friday 2-4 P.M. then continuing at the Church until 8 P.M. with a 7 P.M. Scriptural Prayer Service. Leona Gertrude Czmowski was born on Wednesday, May 20, 1931 to Nick and Ida (Gebur) Czmowski on the family farm in Butler, Township, Day County, South Dakota near Lily. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lily. She attended St. Otto’s Catholic School in Webster and then graduated from Lily High School in 1949. After high school she moved to Bristol where she was employed at the hardware store and then moved to Webster where she worked at the dry cleaners. On August 11, 1951 she married Roman Gronke at Lily, South Dakota. After their marriage the couple made their home in Webster. In the mid 1950’s they moved to Fargo, North Dakota so he could go to school for autobody repair. After his graduation they moved to Carrington, North Dakota for two years and then to Aberdeen where she attended Aberdeen School of Commerce where she studied accounting. She was a homemaker, raising her children and she also worked for Mercury Cleaners. After they owned their own body shop she did the bookkeeping and office work. In 1992 the couple retired and moved to a home on Blue Dog Lake. She worked at the Webster School for a few years. Mr. Gronke passed away in 1996. In 1998, because of high water, it became necessary that she move her home to Webster. In 2001 she was diagnosed with cancer and over the next several years waged a valiant war with the disease. Her fight with the disease finally came to a conclusion on Monday, August 6, 2007 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 76 years, 2 months and 17 days. She loved to hunt and fish, play cards, gardening, going to the casino. She always enjoyed her grandchildren. She was a member of the Moose Lodge in Aberdeen and American Legion Auxiliary in Waubay. Survivors include one son, Donald (Penny) Gronke of Fargo, ND; one daughter, Cindy Hanson of Webster, SD; two sisters, Sally (Don) Kotzea of Waubay, SD and Rita Hamman of Webster, SD; two sisters-in-law, Delores Peschke of Webster, SD and Delores Czmowski of Idaho; four grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers and three sisters.