Marie Hronik

MARIE VICTORINE HRONIK

Oxford Junction

Marie Hronik, 101, of Oxford Junction, passed away Aug. 14, 2015, in Clarence, Iowa.

She leaves behind a legacy as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, musician, and teacher who has influenced hundreds of people's lives.

She was born Nov. 3, 1913, on a farm near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the second of nine children to George and Mary (Werner) Victorine. She graduated third in her class from Immaculate Conception High School in Cedar Rapids in 1930. Marie attended Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids with a full scholarship, graduating in 1932 with an associate's degree in education. In 1950, she graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a bachelor's degree in education. Her first teaching job was in a one-room country schoolhouse south of Atkins, where she taught all eight grades.

Marie had a lifelong love of music. While playing the piano in an orchestra at McKinley High School in Cedar Rapids, she met her future husband, Allen Hronik. They were married in Cedar Rapids on June 17, 1940, moved to Berwyn, Ill., and later to Lombard, Ill., where she taught grade school and received her college degree. Her two oldest children, Mary and Edward, were born while she lived in Lombard. For two years during the war, she taught school in Oxford Junction. In 1950, the family moved to the farm she loved, where she lived the rest of her life, in Oxford Junction. Stanley and Pamela were born shortly after moving to the farm.

She taught for a total of 26 1/2 years, including kindergarten and junior high in Oxford Junction. Marie was an inspiration to her students, providing guidance to prepare them to lead successful, fulfilling lives. In many cases, she taught multiple genera-tions of the same families.

After retiring, she worked as a substitute teacher and part time at ACT, where she helped students obtain college scholarships.

Marie not only raised a loving family, was an inspiring teacher, and a devoted wife to her life partner and husband, she also spent many hours of community service for worthwhile causes. She volunteered on the Jones County Cancer board and led the door-to-door cancer campaign for many years. She introduced Daffodils for Cancer in Oxford Junction and brought the mobile unit for mammograms to the town. She served as a board member of the Oxford Junction Senior Center and Farm Bureau Women. She was a member of the Legion Auxiliary and South Wapsi Workers, and she enjoyed bridge and pinochle clubs.

Those left to honor Marie's memory include three children, Dr. Mary (Tom) Curtis of La Mesa, Calif., Stanley (Carole) Hronik of Camino, Calif., and Dr. Pamela (Martin) Malley of Papillion, Neb.; a daughter-in-law, Mary Hronik of Littleton, Mass.; 12 grandchildren, Dr. Allen (Monica) Waziri, Adli (Cindy) Waziri, Nadya Waziri, Dr. Marie (Andy) Tupaj, Carolyn (Patrick) Bogard, Emily Hronik, Brian (Lisa Englund) Hronik, Laura Hronik, Annette (Marvin Stuart) Hronik, Nicholas Hronik, Alyssa Malley and Lynnea Malley; two great-grandchildren, Marcus Waziri and Andrew James Tupaj; two stepgrand-children, Clint Curtis and Judi Edman Yost; and two sisters, Rosemary Meeks and Dorothy Ritchie.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, parents, son (Edward), five brothers (George, Charles, Louis, LeRoy and James), and one sister (Virginia Holsinger).

For those who are interested, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Marie Victorine Hronik Endowed Scholarship at Mount Mercy University, c/o the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. This fund is designated in appreciation of the education Marie received there, and scholarships are granted to worthy students from Jones County.

Friends may call from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Lahey Funeral Home in Oxford Junction. A celebration of a life well lived will be held at 3 p.m. at the funeral home in Oxford Junction. Burial and graveside commem-oration will follow immediately at Mayflower Cemetery in Oxford Junction.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.laheys.com.