Shirley T. Kroona (née Gillund), 85, of St. Anthony Park, died Nov. 14, 2016.
Shirley was born in Decorah, Iowa, on Sept. 29, 1931. She graduated from Preston (Minn.) High School, an excellent student, enthusiastic chorus and band member, and cheerleader.
In 1952, she graduated from the School of Nursing at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital in Chicago. She then obtained her nurse anesthetist’s degree. Shirley started her career in West Virginia, moving to Minnesota in the late 1960s, to work at the old Miller Hospital. She lived in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood for more than 40 years.
She married Bill Kroona in 1969, and in 1972, joyfully welcomed son, Scott, to join Bill’s family of four children.
In 2011, Shirley moved to St. Paul’s Lyngblomsten apartments.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Talmer and Signe (Vang); husband, Bill; sons, James and David; and brothers, Arden and Dean. She is survived by her sons, Scott (Patty), Bill (Jodi) and Bob (Colleen); daughters, Sue (Jana) and Deb; 10 grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; sisters, Cleo (Mayfield) and Arla (Sullivan); and brother, Dan.
Shirley was a member of St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church. Her funeral service was held there on Nov. 18, with interment at Roselawn Cemetery.
