Roman P. “Romie” Kronenwetter, 89, of 430 Maple Street, St. Marys, passed away Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Elk Haven Nursing Home.
He was born October 3, 1922 in St. Marys, son of the late Benedict J. and Anna Rose (Wehler) Kronenwetter.
He is survived by his wife, Genevieve (Sue) McIntyre Kronenwetter, whom he married on September 2, 1950 in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He is also survived by four children, Jane M. Kronenwetter of St. Marys, Patrick J. (Marybeth) Kronenwetter of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Mark J. (Anne) Kronenwetter of St. Marys and Rose M. (Richard) Gabbianelli of Pittsburgh. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Craig, Meghan and Kevin Kronenwetter of St. Marys and Joseph Kronenwetter of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; and four step grandchildren, Angelo (Beth, step great granddaughter Cassandra) of Chicago, Dominic of Atlanta, Anthony of Pittsburgh and Alessandra Gabbianelli of Pittsburgh.
Besides his parents, Roman was preceded in death by his siblings, Harold, Bernard, Helen, Laurence, Arthur, Urban, Carl, Cyril and James.
Roman was a lifelong resident of the area. He was educated in the local Catholic schools and graduated from Central Catholic High School, Class of 1940. After graduation, he began working at the local A&P supermarket as a meat cutter. He then moved on to a series of positions of increasing responsibility at the GTE Sylvania plant in St. Marys, where many local employees knew him over the 43 years he worked there before retiring in 1985. Of course, they may have known him by one of his many nicknames – Romie, Whitey, Bumpy or Tony. All who knew him appreciated his sense of humor and strong work ethic.
Outside of work and in his retirement, Roman relished spending time with his family and friends at his beloved series of hunting camps over the years. He was a great outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially with his sons and grandsons.
When his sons were in Boy Scouts, he spent many years as a committe leader, making numerous camping trips with them. He was a talented woodworker and loved Polka music. He was a devoted husband, a devout Roman Catholic, a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Catholic Men’s Fraternity (CMF), and the Knights of Columbus, where he was awarded “lifetime” status when he reached 65 years of membership.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Monday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the St. Mary’s Church, 144 Church Street, St. Marys, PA 15857, the Elk County Catholic School System, 114 Queens Road, St. Marys, PA 15857 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1128 State Street, Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501.