Thomas A. Kronschnabel, 
88, Fertile, MN, died Friday February 22, 2019, at his home under the care of his family and hospice.
Thomas Alvin Kronschnabel was born August 8, 1930 at Fertile, the son of Edwin and Gemina (Steenerson) Kronschnabel. He was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Fertile.
He was raised in Fertile and attended Fertile School until the 8th grade. He entered the Army on January 16, 1951 and served thru August 16, 1952 spending 13 months with the 2nd infantry division as a Sergeant and Weapons leader during the Korean War. Upon returning he completed his commitment with the MN National Guard with the 36th Infantry and was honorably discharged in December 1953.
Tom married Darlene Moteberg on September 4, 1954 at the Sundal Parsonage in Fertile. They made their home in Fertile and were blessed with three children Dean, Jeff and Peggy. They later built and moved to a beautiful home west of Fertile overlooking the Sandhill River where they resided still.
Tom managed the Fertile Liquor Store for 6 years. He also owned and ran a linoleum shop downtown Fertile and he then began carpentry work for several different people until he started his own business under T.A. Kronschnabel Construction and later added his son’s, Dean and Jeff. Along with his wife, Darlene, he owned and operated the Coast to Coast store in Fertile for 18 years. He continued to do Carpentry work until 2013. He was always busy in his shop creating beautiful keepsake pieces for all his family.
Tom was a member of the VFW, and the American Legion, and he was on the Fertile Fire Department for nearly 20 years. He had several hobbies: woodworking, carving, gardening, hunting, fishing, hiking, traveling to name a few. He always saw the beauty in everything whether it was rocks, birds, flowers, wood, it didn’t matter. He loved spending time with his family especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Tom and Darlene were able to do a lot of traveling and several of the trips would include taking some of the grandkids along. He was always up for an adventure.
Tom is survived by his wife, Darlene of Fertile; sons, Dean (Joan) Kronschnabel of Fertile; Jeff (Sue) Kronschnabel of Fertile; son-in-law Randy Tretter of Red Lake Falls, MN; Grandchildren, Kelly, Nick, Kayla, Kristina, April, Adrienne, Aaron, Cassie, Carrie & Chad; great grandchildren, J, Jetiah, Jaxon, Ashlee, Ella, Alyvia, Osten; sisters-in-law, Janice Ostgarden of Moorhead, MN and Lyla Moteberg of Erskine, MN; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Peggy, brothers, Roy, Harold, Howard and sisters, June, Marie, Caroline, Ruth; Brothers-in-law, Allen, Clarence, Jerry, Vernon, Stanley, and sister-in-law Dorothy. Blessed be his memory.
Memorial Service: 10:30AM Friday, March 8, 2019 at Sundal Lutheran Church, rural Fertile, MN. Visitation: Thursday, March 7, 2019 from 5-7PM with a prayer service at 6:30PM, at Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home, Fertile, MN. Burial: Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, rural Fertile, MN. rrangements with Erikson-Vik-Ganje Funeral Home Fertile, MN www.eriksonvikfh.com
