Gloria Kroening

Gloria Elizabeth (Smith) Kroening, daughter of Wayne Burdett Smith and Opal (Adams) Smith, was born July 21, 1938 in Fayetteville, Georgia. She attended multiple schools growing up and graduated from Cocoa High School. After graduating, she went on to work at the Cape and at Patrick Air Force Base as a typist. When John was 19, he applied for a job at Pan-Am/RCA on Patrick Air Force Base and was hired by Gloria, who would end up becoming the love of her life. Gloria Elizabeth Smith and John Kroening were united in marriage November 30, 1957 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Cocoa, Florida and were steadfast partners in crime. They were both social butterflies, attending and hosting parties with some pretty elite attendees, mingling right alongside astronauts. The two became parents and, eventually grandparents, when they would then become forever known as “Pawpaw” and “Memaw.”

While John worked at the Cape, Gloria raised two children as a homemaker and later started an at-home daycare business. In her spare time, Gloria enjoyed gardening, crocheting, watching Westerns & other Turner Classics, camping, and traveling. She also loved spending time with her family, the dogs, who were like their extra children, and meticulously documenting every moment of her life.

She wrote her life down in those little composition notebooks. It was her way of journaling, but with too much detail. She loved working with the children at the daycare and growing her beautiful landscaping into a sea of greenery and bright colors. Her favorite flower was the bird of paradise. Her and John also loved spending time outside in nature. She could name almost every plant, flower, bush, and bird. When they decided to move to Minnesota, Gloria did everything she could to beautify her garden to mimic the greenery of Florida. Her most beloved obsession were her Hosta flowers, right on the corner of their Hancock abode. She would even watch for hours to ensure nobody would steal them because they were such “prized flowers around here”.

Gloria “Memaw” Kroening died on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at the West Wind Village nursing home in Morris, Minnesota. She was 87 years old. 

She will be forever remembered as the boisterous and meticulous one of the family, and if you hear her playing piano or cooking in the kitchen while humming or singing half the words of a song, you'll think of her as her beloved John twirls her around endlessly to some Polka music. She was lost without him by her side. Now, they are together again. Even their fights were more a comedy routine than true anger. It was how their marriage lasted so long - true communication and no secrets (besides Pawpaw hiding chocolate).

Gloria is survived by her two children: Son: John “Johnny” (Sharon) Kroening of Cocoa, FL; Daughter: Theresa (Ric) Barnett of Texarkana, Arkansas; Grandchildren: Dustin “Dusty” Kroening and Amanda (Allen) Fiorentino-Anderson; and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her beloved fur companion: Artie; and grand-fur companion: Apollo “Apple-O” . She was preceded in death by parents: Wayne and Opal Smith; sister: Barbara (Bobbie) Dean; loving husband: John A. Kroening; and many nieces and nephews.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in charge of the arrangements.