Francis '"Frank"' Croniser

Boonville - Francis "Frank" Croniser, 79, of Brown Road passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at Lewis County General Hospital in Lowville. He was born on January 23, 1930 at the Croniser homestead farm at Locust Grove to John and Gladys Bourgeois Croniser. Frank grew up in Locust Grove and received his education at Port Leyden Central School. After completing school he was employed at the family dairy farm. Mr. Croniser served his country from 1953-55 in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict Era. He was inducted on January 13, 1953 in Syracuse, and was sent to Armored School at Ft. Knox, KY where he received training as a Track Vehicle Mechanic from June thru August of 1953. His most significant duty assignment was in SVC Co. 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment. Corporal Croniser was honorably discharged on January 12, 1955 at Ft. Mead, MD. He was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. On October 15, 1955, Francis was united in marriage with Mary Louise Samson at St. John's Church, Lyons Falls. After their marriage the couple lived in the Boonville area, moving to their home on the Brown Road in 1959. Following his discharge, Frank began his long career in the building construction business. He was a very talented carpenter and possessed a great knowledge of construction site operations. His first employment in carpentry was with Francis Kirk in general building construction in the Boonville area. For many years he was employed by Carpenters Union Local 120 of Rome, in the construction of numerous large buildings in New York State, including the Adirondack Senior High School facility in Boonville during the late 1960's. For several years he was employed by Calnero Construction Co. of Rome. In 1979 he and his son, Barry, founded the Croniser Logging Co. Inc., a business involved in timber harvesting throughout northern New York. Following his retirement from the logging business in 2001, he found great pleasure in helping his children with construction projects on their farms. Frank's Catholic faith gave him great comfort and joy throughout his life. He was a member of St. Mary's Church in Constableville. For several years he served as coach of the Boonville Little League Firemen's baseball team. He was a Yankees baseball fan, and a fan of the Syracuse University Orangemen basketball team. He enjoyed snowmobiling, bowling, and card playing with his family. His very greatest enjoyment in his life was the time spent with his wife, Mary Lou, and his seven children and grandchildren. He loved helping his children in any way he could. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons and their families, Duane and his wife, Susan of Lowville, and their children, Kristina and Lauren Croniser and Zachary Putnam, Barry and his wife, Jody of Boonville, and their children, Douglas, Sara Fetterly and her husband Brian, Dr. Megan Croniser, and Mathew and his companion, Erica Coughlin, Mark and his wife, Wendi of Boonville, and their children, Jacob, Nathan and Nevan, and David and his wife Cary, also of Boonville, and their children Parker, Rylee and John; two daughters and their families, Brenda of Port Leyden, and Karen Knoblauch and her husband, Kenneth of Constableville and their children, Brittany, Bradley and Cassie; two great-grandchildren, Bailey and Marlee Fetterly; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and his wife, Sally of Boonville; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a son, Patrick Croniser on January 31, 1982, and two brothers, Douglass in 1949 and Raymond in 1990. A prayer service will be held Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street in Boonville, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 12:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Constableville, with the Rev'd Lawrence Marullo officiating. Interment will be in the spring in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Constableville, where a U.S. Army Honor Guard from Ft. Drum will provide military rites. Visitation at the funeral home will be Friday 1-3 and 7-9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church in Constableville or the Constableville Fire Co. Ambulance Fund.