John “Jack” Cronin, 80, of Callendar, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Born John Peter Cronin on March 15, 1945, at the family home in Callendar, he was raised there and attended local grade schools before graduating from Saint Edmond High School in 1963.
Jack spent more than thirty years with Ma Bell Telephone Company, traveling the world to install phone lines. He was a devoted member of Holy Trinity Church and the Knights of Columbus. In his free time, he cherished visits with family and friends, enjoyed reading, and found quiet pleasure in watching westerns and sports, especially football.
He is survived by his sister-in-law Peg Cronin of Des Moines, 18 nieces and nephews—Ray, Mike, Joe, Marianne, Kathleen, Dave, Diane, Bob, Deb, Carolyn, Bill, Laura, Joan, Colleen, Julie, Janice, Dennis, and Karen—along with 49 grand-nieces and nephews and 45 great-grand-nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his Callendar family, Brandon, Karen, Ryan, Lucas, and Tyler Jondle.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Marie (Conway) Cronin; his siblings, Joe Cronin, Jim Cronin, Rose Marie Sylvester, and Marcella Shovlain; his nieces, Cathy Faulkner and Mary Smith; and his grand-nephews, Braddock Shovlain, Billy Cronin, and Steven Shovlain.
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