Jo Ann Bell Kronick

Jo Ann was born on August 21,1937 in Anoka Minnesota to Calvin and Georgena (Bell) Reynolds. Jo Ann was the youngest of ten children. In her Minnesota girlhood, she found joy in ice skating, baton twirling, and cheerleading —early reflections of a steady fun-spirit and an unflappable nature that remained with her throughout life.

In Minnesota, it was on a blind date, at a hockey game, where Jo Ann met her husband, Rick Kronick. While dating, they enjoyed going to the movies and the local Hamburger Hop. They were married on August 10, 1957, and built a family together, welcoming four children: Michael, Bobbi, Kristin, and Margaret. Throughout the years, Jo Ann’s devotion to her family showed itself in countless practical loving ways—if her children were in a sporting event or dance event, she there as a team chaperone, a team cheerleader, or the team chauffeur; transporting kids in her station wagon named Snowball. She was the mom who made sure her children were supported wherever life took them.

Jo Ann was a mother who balanced home life and work life with tenacity. She worked as a teacher’s aide at Jefferson Elementary, at the Weld County Assessor’s office, then worked for State Farm Insurance, in Agency Benefits, for over 15 years - all the while raising four kids and studying and earning her associate’s degree at Aims College. As a woman, she recognized the importance of continuing her education and obtaining an undergraduate degree. She retired from State Farm at the age of fifty-five, leaving behind a legacy of loyalty and commitment. Thrilled to be retired, she blissfully traded her savvy-business dress fashion for the ultimate golf fashion.

Jo Ann embraced the pleasures that brought her family and friends together. She loved getting together to go golfing and bowling, to sew and to knit, to play BINGO, and go to the casino. Her family would tell you, Jo Ann won more than she lost. If you lost all your money, you went to find mom or grandma, and where she would share her winnings. Back in the day, she was lucky enough to win a lottery ticket to spin the big wheel on Channel 7 TV. A big-devoted sports fan, she followed the Rockies and the Avalanche with enthusiasm. For many years, she and Rick, and her son Mike would travel to Arizona for the Rockies Spring baseball training camps. Later in life, she especially treasured the tradition of watching a Rockies game from a box suite on her birthday – always appreciating her life-long friends who made the trip to Denver to celebrate her. She also loved music and dancing. Music held a special place in her heart, particularly the Big Band recordings of her brother, John, which she loved to listen to and remember.

Those who knew Jo Ann will remember a woman who had a firm, but kind-hearted presence, who had faith, and a selfless way of living that made others feel welcomed. She made friends wherever she went. She was a social butterfly. After Rick passed, she took the brave step of joining an assisted living community. Here, she enjoyed hosting her new friends and her life-long friends for coffee and the occasional apple turnover, all the while making new conversations and new memories. Her influence will be felt forever by her family and her friends who loved her, and who know they will see her again.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her parents, all nine of her siblings, her husband, Richard Joseph Kronick; her son, Michael Christopher Kronick; and her daughter, Roberta Jo Ann “Bobbi” Kronick-Wiedeman. She is survived by her daughters, Kristin Kronick, and Margaret Scott, her grandchildren, Brian, (Gina) Wiedeman, Karli Wiedeman, and Haley, (Conner) Roggy, and her Great-grandchildren, LillyAnna, Alexa, Maise, Ava, Gabriel, and Max.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.