Ann (Kroeck) Justus

Ann Justus passed away peacefully on October 15, 2011 at her home at Riverside Terrace in Beloit, WI.

She was born Loula Ann Kroeck in Smithville Missouri, the only child of Reuben and Sophia Brooks Kroeck. She was raised on a farm with no electricity and no indoor running water and rode a horse everyday to school, but she was an accomplished pianist with a lifelong love of playing the piano. She went off to Central College in Fayette, Missouri with one suitcase holding four blouses, two skirts and one dress. She transferred to Park University in Parkville, Missouri where she graduated with a degree in English and spent several years teaching high school English literature and speech.

In 1943, she married her childhood sweetheart, Edgar J. (EJ) Justus. After EJ returned from WWII and graduated from Georgia Tech, they moved to Beloit, Wisconsin where EJ spent the vast majority of his career at the Beloit Corporation. Together they raised five children. Ann was active in supporting her children’s activities. She was a member First Congregational Church of Beloit where she formed a group called Women in Touch for widowed or single women and until a few years ago she served as a deacon. She was also active in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Coterie Club and Tuesday Review.

EJ predeceased her in 1988.

She is survived by her five children, Katherine Clayton (Gordon) of Cary, North Carolina, Michael Justus (Lesley) of Beloit, Peggy Carew (Bruce) of Greenville, Wisconsin, Jane Schlichter (Mark) of Ocala, Florida and Joey Hennessey (Michael) of Elmhurst, Illinois. In addition she leaves eleven grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

Visitation : 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at the First Congregational Church. 901 Bushnell, Beloit, WI, followed by a funeral service at 4:30 p.m. with the Reverend N. Kendell Nordstrom officiating.

Graveside Service: 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2011 in the Smithville Memorial Cemetery in Smithville, Missouri next to EJ and near her parents.

The family thanks all the caregivers at Riverside Terrace who took such wonderful care of her; she considered them her friends.

Those wishing to make a contribution in her memory may do so at the First Congregational Church or Beloit Regional Hospice, 655 Third Street, Suite 200, Beloit, WI 53511.

Arrangements Hixson-Klein Funeral Home and Brian Mark Funeral Homes 1000 Inman Parkway Beloit, WI 53511 (608) 362-2000 www.brianmarkfh.com