Loretta Florence (Brummer) Krone

Loretta, known by her family and friends as Rusti, was the second oldest of ten brothers and sisters. She was born in Tipton, Kansas, on September 15, 1930 to Kathryn and Joseph Brummer.  Her family eventually settled in a small house on the west side of Beloit. She attended St John’s High School, where she excelled in mathematics. Her dream was to attend Marymount College in Salina, Kansas, and become a math teacher, but life took her on another path.  She met a charmingly handsome young man in high school named Arnold Krone. They fell in love and soon started a family.

As their family grew, so did the need for our mom to work outside of the home. Early on, she worked at Daily Call as a writing assistant and later as a long-time employee of First Federal Savings in Loan.  There she was able to use her math expertise to work her way up to an officer position at the bank.

Rusti had a strong inherent trait: despite working full-time in a demanding position, she worked even harder at home. She was a skillful seamstress who made many of our school clothes, coats, prom dresses.  She was also an excellent cook.  Some early memories were waking up to that sweet smell of cinnamon rolls(second only to those baked by her mother) or walking into our tiny kitchen with the windows fogged over because she was canning the latest bean harvest from our garden. Mom did, however have little patience in teaching these skills to her curious kids, because there was precious little time to get everything done. So, if you didn’t quickly grasp what she was teaching you,then she was done. Having said that, she wasn’t all work and no play.  Mom loved to dance.  She could kick up her heels while line dancing or step gracefully to a foxtrot.  Rusti also enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge.

Rusti loved her mother, Kathryn and worked hard assisting her with her activities of daily living so that she could remain in her home in her later years.

Our mom’s path in life took dramatic change in 2007 when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.  For nine years she resided at Brookdale Senior Living in McPherson, Kansas, where her daughter Cheryl oversaw her care.

Rusti was released from this unforgiving disease, dying peacefully on September 12, 2017.  Rusti is survivedby her children Tom Krone (Judy), Cyndi Edwards (Carl), Cheryl Brunholtz (Tom) and Tim Krone. She is also survived by numerous friends and family Tommie Krone, Gwen Krone, brothers Jerry Brummer (Pauline), Virgil Brummer (Sue), Clarence Brummer (MaryLou) and sisters Elaine Donahoo (Harvey), Dorlyn Kersh (Lynn), and Joan Laraby.  Rusti dearly loved her seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Rusti is preceded in death by her husband Arnold, her grandson Dennis Krone, brothers Ronald and Kenneth Brummer and her sister Arlene Fischer.

Our mom’s faith in God never wavered.  She believed that we each had a guardian angel to watch over us as we journey through life and beyond.  So, Mom, now that your life’s journey has ended, take flight with your guardian angel and be in the peace and happiness of God’s loving grace. Love everlasting

Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church Monday, September 18th at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Johns Catholic Cemetery, Beloit.