Grace Eileen Kropf, age 91 of Lowell, went to be with her Lord Tuesday, November 25, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Howard, in 2012; her parents; great-grandson, Casey Kropf ; 2 sisters and spouses Maxine (Hugo) Conner, Shirley (Tom) Cornell; brother-in-law Oscar (Mike) Bergsma; 2 brothers and spouses Donald (Mary) Shores, Carl (Jean) Shores; and 2 sisters-in-law and spouses Norma (Archie) Duncan, Dorothy (Douglas) Jenks . She is survived by her children, Keith (Marcia) Kropf, Carolyn (John) Hardie, J. Richard (Marilyn) Kropf, Barbara Will; 15 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; sister Dorothy Bergsma; brother Willis (Jeanette) Shores; and many nieces and nephews. Eileen was born February 17, 1923 to Frank & Hulda (Devault) Shores at the family farm on Sayles Road in Ionia County. She attended Sayles School and Lowell High School. In her young adult years, Eileen worked at a glider factory during the war. She was married to Howard Kropf at Alton Church on March 17, 1943. They made their home and raised their 2 sons and 2 daughters on the Kropf family farm on 4 Mile Rd. in Vergennes Township. Her hobbies were crocheting, embroidery and vegetable and flower gardening. In 2001, they moved into Lowell where Eileen cared for Howard as his Parkinson’s progressed. They celebrated 69 years of marriage in March 2012 at the Alton Church, where they were still members, before Howard’s death on April 29, 2012. Eileen’s family became her caregivers as her health declined. Her greatest joy was having a Sunday dinner with the grandchildren assigned each week. Funeral service will be held Sunday 2:30 p.m. at Alton Bible Church, 2780 Lincoln Lake Road, Lowell. Pastor Ken Ford officiating. Interment Alton Cemetery. Visitations Friday 6-8:00 p.m. and Saturday 2-4:00 p.m. and 6-8:00 p.m. at Roth-Gerst Chapel, 305 N. Hudson, Lowell. Memorial contributions may be made to Alton Cemetery Fund or the American Heart Association, 3940 Peninsular Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.
