Ethel J. Kroshus

Ethel J. Kroshus, age 89, of Janesville, WI, died Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Rock Haven Nursing Home in Janesville. A Celebration of Ethel’s Life and Memorial Service will be at 12:00 P.M. Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah with Rev. Gary Lee officiating. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery.Visitation will begin at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 26, one hour before the service, at the church.Ethel Jeanette (Hanson) Kroshus was born September 18, 1924 in rural Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of James and Elsie (Anderson) Hanson. Ethel moved to California to marry the love of her life, Clifford L. Kroshus. They were married April 7, 1942. Ethel completed her GED in California. They had their first child (Rita) while Clifford was stationed in Florida with the Navy. The family returned to Highlandville area in1948. Bonnie and Terry where added to the family while living on the farm. Ethel was a devoted farmer's wife. When the family gave up farming and moved to Decorah, that is when Ethel started working outside the home. Ethel worked at Deco Products until they moved to Kansas in 1964. Clifford started working at the Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. Ethel worked as a shirt inspector at Nat Nast in Bonner Springs, Kansas. In 1975, Cliff and Ethel moved to Wisconsin where Cliff worked at the Oxford Federal Prison. After Cliff's retirement in 1983 they would spend their winters in Arizona for 25 years. Cliff and Ethel had a lot of wonderful memories during their golden years. Ethel is survived by her three children: Rita Steele(Ed) of Winona, MN, Bonnie Knutson (Richard) of Janesville, WI and Terry Kroshus(Rochelle) of Rogers, AR. Ethel loved and was loved by her five grandchildren: Scott Steele(Kim), Matt Steele(Shari), Tod Blankenship(LuAnn), John Knutson(Pam) and Ginny Kroshus; and by eleven great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her brother Duane Hanson(Dorothy) of Faribault, MN. Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clifford on February 24, 2010, and her beloved granddaughter, Traci Brammer on March 9, 2014.Words that Ethel lived by: No act of kindness, however small, is wasted. Remember sadness is always temporary. This too shall pass. The most wasted of all days is the one without laughter.