Kroeker, Dean (1944-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Nov 27 p. 7

Birth date: 1944

text of obituary:

Educator, Bethel board member dies

By Bethel College

INOLA, Okla.—Dean Kroeker, educator, churchman and current member of the Bethel College board of directors, died Nov. 9 after a sudden illness. He was 62.

Kroeker was born in Pryor, Okla., to Frank and Elizabeth (Rempel) Kroeker. He graduated from Bethel in 1967 with degrees in music and chemistry.

Kroeker was the band director for the Goessel school system in 1967-68. He and his wife, Bonnie (Bird), who were married in 1967, then went to Twillingate, Newfoundland, where Kroeker taught science for a year, and to Lead Cove, Newfoundland, for a year with Mennonite Central Committee's Teachers Abroad Program.

From 1974 to 1977 he was administrator for Bethesda Mennonite Hospital and Nursing Home in Goessel. The Kroekers returned to Chouteau, Okla., in 1977 to take over the family grocery business. Kroeker began teaching in the Chouteau-Mazie public school system in 1979, which he did until his death, serving at various times as band director, teacher of science, computer and German, teacher in the special education and gifted programs, and newspaper sponsor.

He was a cook for the Oklahoma Mennonite Disaster Service Youth Squad and was on the Oklahoma Mennonite Relief Sale board for 29 years, including three as chair. For many years, he was in charge of the crafts program at Bible Memory camps at Camp Christian in Chouteau and served as camp director at Oklahoma Mennonite Camp near Hydro.

Kroeker was baptized in Eden Mennonite Church, Inola, in 1958. He had served as minister of music and bell choir director. Funeral services were held at the church Nov. 11.

In addition to his wife, Kroeker is survived by a son, Karl, and his wife, Cheri, of Durant, Okla.; a daughter, Karenza, of Kalona, Iowa; and mother, Elizabeth Kroeker of Chouteau.