Adelaide Marie Croghan
June 27, 1927 — September 1, 2013
Adelaide Marie Croghan, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Schechinger Gaul was born June 27, 1927 on a farm near Earling, Iowa. She was the only daughter in a family of twelve children. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic grade school and graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic high school with the class of 1945. Adelaide loved music and played the organ at church while growing up. After graduation she worked for a short time at the Farm Service Agency which later became the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) in Harlan, Iowa.
On October 30, 1952 she was united in marriage to Peter T. Croghan at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Thirteen children were born to this union. After their marriage, Adelaide and Peter farmed west of Panama and were active members of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church of Panama.
Adelaide’s family was always most important to her. Her children described her as being a loving parent, patient and kind. She loved to sit around the table with her family, visiting, playing board games, doing puzzles and laughing – always lots of laughter. She was always there to lean on, giving comfort and providing quiet strength, especially at the time of the death of her two grandchildren. Adelaide taught through example. It became clear, even in her last weeks, that she wasn’t done teaching them. She showed strength, determination and grace.
After becoming a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Community, she became friends with the residents and staff. Through her sense of humor and positive attitude, she brought joy to all.
Adelaide died at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa on September 1, 2013, having attained the age of eighty-six years, two months, and five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Peter, two grandchildren Justin and Laura, and nine brothers: Isadore, Sylvester, Ferdinand, Fr. Hillary, Fr. Cornelius, Francis, Gerald, Charles and Joseph.
Survivors include her children: Michael and his wife Ruth of Littleton, Colorado, Donald and his wife Kathie of Knoxville, Iowa, Marilyn and her husband Roy Dobson of Hamilton, Ohio, Phil and his wife Jean of Panama, Iowa, Margaret and her husband Tom Goeser of Manilla, Iowa, Barbara and her husband Rick Bruck of Manilla, Iowa, Theresa and her husband Vinton Wooster of Charter Oak, Iowa, Bob and his wife Janet of Portsmouth, Iowa, Richard and his wife Janie of Woodbine, Iowa, Frank of Littleton, Colorado, Alice and her husband Ron Ratigan of Panama, Iowa, Kathleen and her husband Scott Englander of Lenexa, Kansas, and Raymond of Earling, Iowa; thirty-eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two brothers: Peter Gaul and his wife Mae of Melbourne, Florida, and Leo Gaul and his wife Agnes of Harlan, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
Rev. John Dorton celebrated the 10:30 Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, September 5, 2013 with ConCelebrants Rev. Paul Koch and Rev. Don Bruck at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Jodie Wingert accompanied vocalists Bob Mages, Greg Croghan, Amanda Dobson, and Marti Schmidt. Honorary casket bearers were Marilyn Dobson, Margaret Goeser, Barbara Bruck, Theresa Wooster, Alice Ratigan, and Kathleen Englander. Serving as casket bearers were Michael Croghan, Donald Croghan, Phil Croghan, Robert Croghan, Richard Croghan, Frank Croghan, and Raymond Croghan. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Panama, Iowa.
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On October 30, 1952 she was united in marriage to Peter T. Croghan at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Thirteen children were born to this union. After their marriage, Adelaide and Peter farmed west of Panama and were active members of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church of Panama.
Adelaide’s family was always most important to her. Her children described her as being a loving parent, patient and kind. She loved to sit around the table with her family, visiting, playing board games, doing puzzles and laughing – always lots of laughter. She was always there to lean on, giving comfort and providing quiet strength, especially at the time of the death of her two grandchildren. Adelaide taught through example. It became clear, even in her last weeks, that she wasn’t done teaching them. She showed strength, determination and grace.
After becoming a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Community, she became friends with the residents and staff. Through her sense of humor and positive attitude, she brought joy to all.
Adelaide died at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa on September 1, 2013, having attained the age of eighty-six years, two months, and five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Peter, two grandchildren Justin and Laura, and nine brothers: Isadore, Sylvester, Ferdinand, Fr. Hillary, Fr. Cornelius, Francis, Gerald, Charles and Joseph.
Survivors include her children: Michael and his wife Ruth of Littleton, Colorado, Donald and his wife Kathie of Knoxville, Iowa, Marilyn and her husband Roy Dobson of Hamilton, Ohio, Phil and his wife Jean of Panama, Iowa, Margaret and her husband Tom Goeser of Manilla, Iowa, Barbara and her husband Rick Bruck of Manilla, Iowa, Theresa and her husband Vinton Wooster of Charter Oak, Iowa, Bob and his wife Janet of Portsmouth, Iowa, Richard and his wife Janie of Woodbine, Iowa, Frank of Littleton, Colorado, Alice and her husband Ron Ratigan of Panama, Iowa, Kathleen and her husband Scott Englander of Lenexa, Kansas, and Raymond of Earling, Iowa; thirty-eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two brothers: Peter Gaul and his wife Mae of Melbourne, Florida, and Leo Gaul and his wife Agnes of Harlan, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
Rev. John Dorton celebrated the 10:30 Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, September 5, 2013 with ConCelebrants Rev. Paul Koch and Rev. Don Bruck at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama, Iowa. Jodie Wingert accompanied vocalists Bob Mages, Greg Croghan, Amanda Dobson, and Marti Schmidt. Honorary casket bearers were Marilyn Dobson, Margaret Goeser, Barbara Bruck, Theresa Wooster, Alice Ratigan, and Kathleen Englander. Serving as casket bearers were Michael Croghan, Donald Croghan, Phil Croghan, Robert Croghan, Richard Croghan, Frank Croghan, and Raymond Croghan. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Panama, Iowa.
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