Jerome Joseph Cronan Sr. (Jerry), 88, passed away on Monday September 14, 2020 in Overland Park, Kansas.

Jerry was born in Salem, Massachusetts on May 23, 1932 to Francis Peter Cronan and Elizabeth (née Crean) Cronan. He was the youngest of the Cronan clan behind his siblings Gerard, Thomas, Rosemary, Francis, Mary Theresa, and John. Jerry attended St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, Massachusetts and was active in athletics including baseball, basketball, and football. His talent on the gridiron earned him a football scholarship to St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont.

Before heading to college, Jerry and the kids from his neighborhood (including his brother John) put together a basketball team called the Cavaliers. The season didn’t last too long, as one by one each of his teammates was recruited to join the Marines. They completed boot camp and were sent to Korea just in time for the end of the war (his children credit their Nana’s prayers as bringing about an end to the Korean War). Jerry then headed to St. Michael’s to continue his education, funded by the GI Bill and his football scholarship.

With his business degree, he started his career in sales soon after graduation as the peanut man working for E. F. Kemp Nuts.

In the winter of 1958, he met the love of his life, Aileen Frances Shields, while on a ski trip to Lake Placid, New York organized by their mutual friends. Aileen, concerned about attending Mass on Sunday morning, was knocking on doors in the ski lodge looking for anyone else who was planning on going. Jerry piped up and said he’d be happy to take Aileen to Mass as long as they went to the early service so they could be the first ones on the lift when the slopes at Whiteface Mountain opened. Their romance blossomed and they were married on June 10, 1961.

After the wedding they settled into their carriage house apartment located in Scarsdale, New York. They soon welcomed Elizabeth Ann in 1962, Martha Helen in 1963, Jerome Joseph, Jr. (Jay) in 1965, Moira Aileen in 1966, and Kelley Marie in 1967. In the process, he moved his growing family from Scarsdale, NY to Mount Laurel, NJ to Salem, NH to Oakville, Ontario, Canada (with summers spent at Hoover Park in Puslinch, Ontario), and finally landing in Overland Park, Kansas on July 7, 1977.

While the family grew, so did Jerry’s career in sales. He graduated from peanut salesman to sales manager for Chevron Chemical Company and continued with Chevron for 35 years until his retirement in the mid-1990’s.

Faith, Family, and Fairways! In that order! These three facets were most important to his being. Jerry was guided by his strong Catholic faith and attended daily Mass faithfully until COVID-19 forced him to pray from home. Though he traveled frequently for Chevron, his home office allowed him more time with his children as they moved through high school. He even had the opportunity to play “Mr. Mom” as Aileen pursued her master’s degree.

After retirement, he had more time for family, including time with his grandchildren. Teaching his grandchildren how to golf and time spent with them on the golf course was heaven for Jerry and a cherished memory for his 10 grandchildren.

Jerry is survived by Aileen, his wife of 59 years, Children: Betsy Malkus (Jim) of St. Louis, Missouri; Martha Kauffman (Matt) of Kansas City, Missouri; Jay Cronan (Kim) of Overland Park, Kansas; and Moira Vogt (Bill) of Roeland Park, Kansas. Grandchildren: Stephanie Malkus, Lindsey Malkus, Christopher Malkus (Danielle), Ryan Kauffman, Rachel Kauffman, Molly Vogt Seiler (Jacob), Emma Vogt, Patrick Vogt, Jordan Cronan, and Jerome Joseph Cronan, III. Jerry is also survived by his first Great-Grandchild, Miles Anthony Malkus, born August 27, 2020.

Jerry was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters and by his daughter Kelley Marie in 1993.

Visitation will take place on Monday September, 21 at 9:30am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30am and will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (11300 W 103rd St, Overland Park, KS 66214), Rev. Ric Halvorson officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made in Jerry’s name to Catholic Charities Foundation of Northeast Kansas (913) 433-2033  https://catholiccharitiesks.org/donate/