Godfrey (Gotch) Cronin, 79

Godfrey (Gotch) E. Cronin, age 79, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Gotch was born Jan. 17, 1930, in Chicago, to the late Godfrey and Mary (Lynch) Cronin.He graduated from Leo High School in Chicago, (1948), St. Edward’s University (1955), and DePaul University. On June 18, 1955, married his wife of 54 years Margaret Therese (O’Connor). She preceded him in death most recently on April 17, 2009. Gotch was a teacher at Springfield School in Midlothian, Ill., who later became superintendent of Posen-Robbins District 143 . He was co-author of the book “Four Hundred Navels: The Future of School Healthcare in America.” He was a pioneer lobbyist for the Title I Special Education Law in the state of Illinois. He was an active community member in Markham, Ill., serving on the library board, school board and at St. Gerard Majella Parish.Gotch and Therese started coming to Colon, in 1976 and then made it their permanent home in 1985.It is in Colon where he was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, Library Board, St. Joseph County Parks, St. Barbara’s Catholic Church, Lions and founded Colon Sparkle.He is survived by his children, Maureen (David) Marthaler of Crete, Ill., Colleen (Mark) Muench of Chicago, Peter Cronin of Joliet, Ill., and Godfrey “Tommy” (Theresa) Cronin of Chicago; and five grandchildren. ‘Services will be held at Schipper Funeral Home LTD in Colon from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. today.  On Saturday, the funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara’s Church in Colon.In leu of flowers memorials may be made in memory of Gotch to the Colon Food Pantry or the Colon Library, Colon, MI 49040.