Frank Crownhart, 93

Francis "Frank" Xavier Crownhart, age 93, of Elmwood, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Dunn County Health Care Center in Menomonie.

Frank was born on Sept. 8, 1919, in the Town of Salem, Pierce County, to parents Arthur and Mary (Riley) Crownhart, the fourth of seven children. At 6 weeks of age, the family moved to a farm at the top of Krammes Hill between Elmwood and Hatchville. There Frank attended Pine Cooley School, Town of Weston, Dunn County, and helped on the family farm as well as worked on neighboring farms. In 1935, when Frank was 16 years of age, the family moved to a farm on County Road G west of Elmwood, where Frank farmed for the next 44 years.

Frank married Adeline Schober on June 19, 1945, at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Eau Galle. Frank and Adeline farmed the 320-acre dairy farm on County Road G in the Towns of Spring Lake and Rock Elm, Pierce County, and raised a family of five children. Upon retirement in 1979, Frank and Adeline moved into the Village of Elmwood. Frank did spring fieldwork for area farmers for a few years and was the custodian at the Sacred Heart Church and rectory for 25 years, also handling lawn care and snow removal. In addition, he worked part-time for Rhiel's Funeral Service for 18 years. He was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he and Adeline attended daily Mass and Frank served as an usher.

Frank is survived by his wife of 67 years, Adeline; sons, David of Denver, Colo., and Daniel of Patzcuaro, Mexico; daughters Kathleen (David) Krings of Lakeville, Minn., and Jean (Dick) Zeithaml of the Town of Tainter, Dunn County; grandson, Jacob (Mandi) Krings of Maple Grove, Minn.; granddaughter, Jenna Krings of Minnetonka, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Mason and Paige Krings of Maple Grove, Minn.; sisters-in-law Virginia Schober of Menomonie and Veronica Schober of Woodbury, Minn.; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mary Crownhart; two brothers, Philip (Lucille) Crownhart and Robert (Ginger) Crownhart; four sisters, Catherine (Boots) Plon, Agnes (Vernon) Rhiel, Marian (Ralph) Rhiel, and Dorothy (Charles) Disse; and four brothers-in-law, Kenneth, Bernard, James (Ingrid), and Adrian Schober.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Church in Elmwood or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elmwood with Rev. Kevin Louis and Rev. Varkey V. Joseph officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the Rhiel Funeral Home in Elmwood, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., and also 1 hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Online condolences may be made at www.rhielfuneralhome.com. Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Elmwood is serving the family.

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