Doreen (Wanta) Cronce and Miles Cronce, both 82
A funeral service for Doreen (Wanta) Cronce, 82, formerly of Theodosia, was held Oct. 23, 2023, at Snapp-Bearden Funeral Home and Crematory in Branson. She died Oct. 16. Her husband Miles Cronce, also 82 and formerly of Theodosia, died a year and five days before her, on Oct. 21, 2022.
Miles was born Oct. 5, 1940, the youngest of three children born to Walter and Viola Cronce. Doreen was born Nov. 9, 1940, to Raymond and Alice Wanta, the oldest of three children. They grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The two high school sweethearts married in 1961, celebrating 61 years of marriage until Miles’ death last fall.
Miles learned early in life that hard work was the best way to succeed. That led to a very diverse career that included time working in various jobs including a pin setter at a bowling alley, an employee for the Milwaukee Railroad, various managerial positions with National Foods and Kohls Food Stores in Milwaukee. He was employed in the 1970s as vice president of Liberal Foods in Dayton, Ohio, and he also worked at a granite quarry and was plant manager at Garden Foods in Piedmont, Missouri. Miles also had the honor of saying he had served our nation as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, earning the rank of Sergeant.
Doreen was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends whenever she could. In her professional life, she worked at Cutler-Hammer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after high school, first serving as a mail-carrier, then later as the private secretary to the superintendent of the tool and die makers division. There was a connection she frequently reflected on. This superintendent had played Santa during her family Christmas parties when she was a young girl. The relationship grew very strong over the years, and the superintendent and his wife became more like family to her than co-workers. Years later, she was employed at QBA in Des Arc, Missouri, where she was promoted to the position of production set-up supervisor.
In 1980, Doreen and Miles decided to raise their two children, not in the suburbs, but on a working cattle ranch in Annapolis, Missouri, where they typically managed a herd size of 100 or more beef cattle. Despite Miles’ extensive and diverse career, he felt his biggest challenge was running the cattle ranch. Doreen’s talents really came to the forefront during her time on the ranch. Between baling hay in the summer and cutting wood in fall, winter and spring to heat their 100-year-old home, ranch-life kept the family busy. Doreen’s ingenuity, creativity and love for her animals were evident to all, as she had the knack for keeping very old farm machinery running while maintaining a healthy cattle herd and peacock/chicken flock, not to mention a half-acre garden.
In 1999, the Cronces sold the ranch, transitioned to retirement and moved to Theodosia to a beautiful home that overlooked Bull Shoals Lake. In retirement, Miles was an active member of the community, serving on the Village of Theodosia’s water board. He enjoyed fishing, golf, playing billiards and playing card and table games like dominoes, solitary, spades and hearts with his family. Doreen also enjoyed these games, along with listening to music of all types and watching a good movie.
After Miles’ passing, Doreen moved to Ballwin, Missouri to be closer to family.
Survivors include two children: Christopher Cronce and his wife Karin of Alexandria, Virginia, and Corrin (Cronce) Sachs and her husband William “Bill” of Ballwin, Missouri; three grandchildren: Kailey and Kylie Cronce and Braden Sachs; and brother Wayne Wanta and his wife Jean of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.
They were preceded in death by Doreen’s brother Brian Wanta; along with Miles’ brothers Llewellyn (Lou) Cronce and Roger Cronce.
The family requests that no flowers nor donations be made at this time but that the fond memories of Doreen and Miles be shared and not forgotten.