Barbara Jean Kroymann, age 84 of Prophetstown, IL formerly of Bryant, IA, passed away Tuesday Oct. 25, 2022 at Allure of Prophetstown. Funeral service will be held 11:30 AM Monday Oct. 31st at St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton. Visitation will be held Monday 10:00 AM until the service hour at the church. Burial will be at Clinton Lawn Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Kyle, Joseph, and Thomas Kroymann, Keegan and AJ Strauch, Caleb Jansen. Honorary pallbearers will be Rebecca Kroymann, Stephanie Jacobsen, Jessica Faghihi, Michael Kroymann, and Morgan Jansen. The Pape Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorials may be given to Allure of Prophetstown Memory Care Activities. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.
Barbara was born on March 22, 1938 in County, IA, the daughter of Fred and Loretta (Boettger) Meyer. She married Roland Kroymann on Mar. 9, 1958 in Clinton, IA; he died on Feb. 6, 1996. Barbara and her husband farmed most of their life north of Low Moor and in the Bryant area. She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing and playing variety of card games. Barb always made sure that if you stopped in for visit she had sweet treat with a warm cup of coffee, Sprite, Diet Pepsi, or diet Coke before you left. Barb enjoyed a good conversation with anyone she met. She had great faith in the Lord and had many musical talents. She took great pride in her grandchildren as that is was topic of choice in her conversations. When she watched over her granchildren she often made bacon and pancakes, took them to the pool, played ballon ball in the basement or outside or taught them a good card game or two.
Barbara took great pride in hosting the Hampshire Township Caucus in her home and regularly helped supervise elections. Barbara was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Clinton, where she was an organist for over 50 years. She was President of the Clinton County Cowbells during the 1970’s.
Barbara is survived by her five children, Dennis (Vicky) Kroymann of Clinton, IA, Karen Kroymann of Papillion, NE, Kenneth (Laurie) Kroymann of Solon, IA, Kevin (Pat) Kroymann of Austin, MN, and Donna (Eric) Strauch of Shannon, IL; 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, many neices and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Roland, and a brother, Wayne, two nieces and one nephew.
Barb and I worked together for over 30 years. She was an amazing organist. She played all the same great church music that would be played by professional organists. She was completely in tune with what I was doing in leading the liturgy and knew exactly when to come or when to remain silent. I was always appreciative of her talent and would often brag to others what a fantastic organist I was privileged to work with. In our 30 years of working together she was the organist for many funerals that I conducted. She heard more of my funeral sermons than any other member of the congregation. The saddest funeral was for her husband. That funeral text was Genesis 5:24 – “Enoch walked faithfully with God and then he was no more because God took him away.” Whenever I sing the hymn “Chief of sinners though I be” I think of Roland and Barb. The third stanza says, “Faith and hope to walk with God in the way that Enoch trod.” I am thankful for the example Barb set of walking with God in faith and hope. I send my greetings to all Barb’s children. I am sorry that I won’t be at her funeral service.