Thomas C. Cronk, 70, of Shelocta, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
He was born on November 16, 1955, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, to the late Robert and Ruth (Kline) Cronk.
After graduating from high school, Tom attended Penn State University, where he earned a degree in Mining Engineering. He worked for numerous coal companies throughout the region until his retirement in 2014.
Tom was a true handyman who enjoyed tinkering and problem solving, watching movies, hunting, and tending to his Christmas tree farm. He was an avid reader, and puzzles were a favorite pastime.
He especially loved traveling with his family to destinations around the world, and summer trips to Avalon, NJ were among his most cherished memories. Tom, his brother Jim, and friend Joe Wilkins enjoyed many ski trips together. A proud Eagle Scout, Tom lived a life rooted in service and curiosity. He was a member of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish and was formerly active in the Indiana Jaycees, where he was well known for helping set up the annual Halloween haunted house.
Surviving are his siblings: Dr. James R. Cronk of Lansdale, PA; Judith A. Sipos of Indiana; Linda J. (David) Landesman of St. Louis, MO; Barbara R. Rulewich of Hagerstown, MD; Donna J. (Doug) Pike of Indiana; and Timothy J. (Donna) Cronk of St. Peters, MO. Also surviving are his niece Jessica (John) DeLeon of St. Louis, MO; nephew Tucker Landesman (Marcos Vinicius) of Berlin, Germany; great-nephew Beau DeLeon; great-nieces Olive and Ella DeLeon; along with numerous cousins and friends.
In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Joseph Rulewich.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Tom on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church, 200 Clairvaux Drive, Indiana, PA 15701, with Father Jonathan Ulrick, OFM, Cap., as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery, Indiana. To send an online condolence to the family, please visit www.bowserminich.com. The family kindly suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to Four Footed Friends, 220 Beck Road, Indiana PA 15701, or the Indiana County Humane Society, 191 Airport Road, Indiana PA 15701
