Anne Louise Waltermire-Kronen

Anne Waltermire-Kronen of Missoula died of natural causes at the age of 90 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at St. Patrick Hospital. She suffered a stroke last October and was hospitalized and in the Village Health Care Center until her death. She was a loving and dedicated wife and mother, a wonderful homemaker, a devoted nurse, a helpful neighbor, a fun-loving companion, a friend to hundreds, a stalwart Republican, and a courageous, tough, independent woman.

She was preceded in death by her sisters Gertrude Van Setten, Alice Martin and Effie Van Wichen; brothers John, Pete, Sam and Jake Luinstra; her first husband, Robert Waltermire; her recent husband of 25 years, Palmer Kronen who passed away just two months ago; and her son Jim Waltermire, a prominent figure in Missoula and Montana politics who died in a plane crash during his race for governor in 1988.

Anne is survived by her daughter, Marsha Waltermire-King of Corning, New York; Palmer's children, Kate Kronen of Missoula and John Kronen of St. Paul, Minnesota; her brother, Harry Luinstra; a large extended family and a host of friends.

She was born, grew up and graduated from high school in Choteau, where she raised her family until moving to Missoula in 1969. While working and raising two children alone, she enlisted in the LPN program at the Missoula Technical Center and graduated in 1970 with her nursing degree. She worked at St. Patrick Hospital until the mid-1990s, and spent all of her retirement years in Missoula, loving its people and complaining of its government and other Democratic politicians across the state and nation.

She lived a long and good life, served her family and community faithfully, and left many friends. All in all, one could ask for little more. Her life was full of love, work and purpose. We miss her deeply and love her always.

Joint memorial services for Anne and Palmer Kronen will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missoula.
Read Anne Waltermire-Kronen's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.