Gordon (Gordy) William Cronstrom, 86, November 19, 1935 – April 20, 2022, passed away peacefully in Gold Canyon due to complications of heart disease. Gordon was born in Superior, WI to William and Dorlina (Woods) Cronstrom.
On April 23, 1960, he married JoAnn Carlson at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Superior. In August 1960, he and JoAnn moved to Mesa, AZ. They were married for 58 years prior to her passing in 2019.
Gordy was a junior high math teacher in Mesa for over 30 years. The Cronstrom family spent summers at their cabin on Lake Nebagamon in Northern Wisconsin where they fished, canoed, and water skied from sunup to sundown. Gordy joked that driving the boat was his “summer job” and never denied his kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews the chance to go “one more time”. Gordy and JoAnn made over 50 annual trips between Arizona and Wisconsin.
Gordy was an avid Green Bay Packer and Phoenix Suns fan. He loved playing cards with his grandkids and never missed his grandson’s baseball and basketball games. He especially loved spending time with his family and was the biggest supporter and encourager of anything his kids, grandkids or great grandkids were involved in.
Gordy’s message to us all: When I die, do not mourn me. Nor is it my wish that you cry over my empty body for sorrow and tears can never bring me back. I would rather have you rejoice for you must realize that I have now gone on to something far greater than here and now. If you must shed a tear, let it be over the good times we had. If you must feel sorrow, let it be over the fact that you have not yet joined me in the quiet place of timelessness.
He is survived by his daughter Sandy (Brian) Akmon, son John, grandchildren Ryan Cronstrom, Colette (Brandon) Spielman, Tatum Cronstrom, Daniel Akmon, and Christopher Akmon. He is preceded in death by his wife, JoAnn, his parents, and sister Virginia.
A celebration of life will be held at Mountain View Gardens, 7900 E Apache Trail, Mesa, AZ, on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 10am.