Kelly Croghan

Kelly Joseph Croghan, the firstborn son of John Joseph and Mary (Wieland) Croghan, was born on April 1, 1970, in Lake City, Iowa. He grew up in Manning and graduated with the Class of 1988.

Following high school, Kelly attended Iowa Central College in Fort Dodge, earning his degree in Food Marketing Management in 1990. On September 28 of that same year, he married “his girl” and high school sweetheart, Brenda Martens, at Sacred Heart Church in Manning. Together they were blessed with three children: John, MaKayla, and Brandon.

Kelly began his career as a meat department manager at Lee Town Foods in Des Moines. In 1993, he started working at Ag Processing Inc. in Manning. In 2007, his job brought him to Sergeant Bluff, where he remained with the company until his retirement on December 31, 2024—culminating a dedicated 31-year career. After relocating to Sergeant Bluff, Kelly and his family eventually settled in Sloan, and later moved to an acreage outside of Oto in 2018.

A devoted family man, Kelly loved nothing more than spending time with his loved ones. He was an avid outdoorsman who found joy in fishing, hunting, camping, and simply being with family and friends. A favorite getaway was Okoboji, where he especially loved fishing for walleye. For Kelly, a “good day” meant being outdoors with the people he loved.

He will be remembered for his generous spirit—always giving, never asking for anything in return—and for the deep love he had for his family and his grandchildren who affectionately called him “Papa.”

Kelly passed away on June 1, 2025, at MercyOne Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of 55. In keeping with his generous spirit, he was a proud donor through the Iowa Donor Network. He was preceded in death by his father, John Croghan; stepfather, Robert Kruse; paternal grandparents, Joseph and Margaret Croghan; maternal grandparents Norbert and Margaret Wieland; uncles, Bill Croghan, Gene Croghan, Bernard Wieland, Larry Wieland and Leonard Wieland.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 34 years, Brenda Croghan of Oto; children: John (Kaitlin) Croghan of Sloan, MaKayla (Boone) Lord of Des Moines and Brandon (Nick) Croghan of Omaha; three grandchildren: Vivian, Miles and Memphis; mother, Mary Kruse (friend Al) of Massena; parents-in-law, James and JoAnn Martens of Manning; siblings: Brian (Stacie) Croghan of Templeton, Shawn (Kathy) Croghan of Des Moines, Jason (Amy) Croghan of Kansas City, and Jennifer White (Volkan Soyulmaz) of Englewood, FL; step-siblings: Shary (Al) Arkfeld of Dow City, LuAnne (Arlan) Sandvik of Napomo, CA, and Lynn Kruse of Manning; Brenda's brothers: Richard (Lisa) Martens of Ames, Randy (JoAnn) Martens of Nebraska City, and Ryan (Laura) Martens of Niceville, FL; many extended family members and friends.

Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be on Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025, also at the church. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Manning. Memorials may be directed to the Woodbury County EMS and the Iowa Donor Network in Kelly’s name.