Verna Arlene (McClure) Croak, 85, a resident of Wakefield, died in Wakefield, on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, after a valiant fight with Alzheimer's disease.
She was born on April 4, 1925, in Mineola, Long Island, N.Y., the daughter of the late Joseph and Ada May (Tremper) McClure.
Verna spent the majority of her youth being raised in Chicago by her mother.
On Aug. 23, 1944, she was united in marriage with Lawrence F. Croak at St. Thomas Aquinas rectory in Toledo, Ohio by the Reverend Hebbeler.
Verna held part-time winter jobs in Chicago and the family would spend summers in Manitowish Waters, Wis.
They lived in Chicago until the fall of 1984, and then moved to Wakefield to be closer to their daughters and families.
She and Lawrence had been married for 45 years, when he died on Nov. 8, 1989.
Her beloved mother died on April 22, 1991.
Verna is survived by her daughters, Karen (Allen) Archie, Bessemer, and Leslie (Dennis "Bud") Johnson, Wakefield; grandsons, Kevin Archie (Bonnie Wallace), St. Louis, Mo., and Ryan (Trisha) Johnson, Rhinelander, Wis.; and great-grandchildren, Fiona and Shea, St. Louis.
She also is survived by her brother-in-law and nieces and nephews in Toledo; and Goddaughters, Amy Berard and Kathy Noet, daughters of longtime friends, Helen (Bunn) Townsend and the late Robert Townsend of Manitowish Waters.
A private service will be held at a later date.
The family is being served by Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., Wakefield.
The family wishes to extend their appreciation to the Gogebic Medical Care Facility, especially the comfort zone staff, for the care shown to our mother.