In Loving Memory Of
Mark T. Croghan

Born Friday, February 7, 1958 Harlan, Iowa

Entered Into Rest Saturday, October 18, 2003
Omaha, Nebraska

Vigil Service 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 21, 2003

Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Sioux City, Iowa

Concelebrants
Father Merlin Schrad, Pastor
Father James McAlpin

Honorary Casket Bearers
West High Prop Dads
John Reischl
Paul Christensen

Casket Bearers - Brothers
Peter Croghan, Dennis Croghan, Owen Croghan,
Willie Croghan, Luke Croghan, Paul Croghan

Interment
Sacred Heart Cemetery Manning, Iowa

 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness..."
2 Timothy 4:7-8


Sioux City Journal
October 21, 2003

Mark T. Croghan

Mark T. Croghan, 45, of Sioux City died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha of injuries suffered in an Aug. 29 explosion.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. Graveside services will be 4 p.m. Wednesday in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Manning, Iowa. Visitation will be 3 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 9 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m., all at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Mr. Croghan was born Feb. 7, 1958, in Harlan, Iowa, the son of Jerome and Catherine (Schmitz) Croghan. He grew up on a farm near Botna, Iowa, and graduated from Manning Community High School in 1977. He attended Iowa Lakes Community College for two years and studied construction tech.

He married Carol Justice on Sept. 12, 1981, in Manning. For the last 22 years, he had been employed in the soybean processing industry. He worked for five years with Agri Industries and the last 17 years with AGP. Prior to that, he worked for Bud Mohr Feed Store in Manning and in the construction industry as a carpenter.

He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He served as co-chair of West High Prop Dads, which assists with the West High Dance Squad. He had served as a volunteer fireman on the Manning Fire Department and was a member of the Siouxland Chapter of GEAPS. He enjoyed woodworking, chopping wood, golf and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Carol of Sioux City; two sons, Adam of Ames, Iowa, and Scott at home; his father, Jerome Croghan of Manning; his mother-in-law and father-inlaw, Wayne and Arlene Justice of Manilla, Iowa; 12 brothers and sisters and their spouses, Julia and Mike Fitzgerald of Winfield, Ill., Mary and David Ensch of Madison, Wis., Ruth and Gary Callahan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Peter and Lois Croghan of Manning, Joan and Rodney Young of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Dennis and Lynette Croghan of Manilla, Owen and LuAnn Croghan of Alton, Iowa, Luke and Linda Croghan of Manilla, Willie and Diana Croghan of Center Point, Iowa, Paul and Brenda Croghan of Manilla, Alice and Phil Kramer of Center Point, Iowa, and Catherine and Mark Lechtenberg of Centerville, Iowa; and three sisters-in-law, Joyce and her husband, Wes Dammann of Manning, Lisa Vania of Lewisville, Texas, and Lori and her husband, John Myers of Adel, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Catherine; a brotherin-law, Rodney Justice; and a sister-in-law, Kristyn Justice.

Pallbearers will be his brothers, Peter, Dennis, Owen, Willie, Luke and Paul Croghan.
A memorial has been established in his name.


AGP explosion claims second life

Sioux City, Journal, October 20, 2003
By Julie Weeder -- Journal Staff Writer

A second person has died from injuries and burns sustained in the August 29 blast at the Salix, Iowa Ag Processing Inc. plant.

Mark T. Croghan, 45. of Sioux City, died Saturday at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He had been hospitalized there since the explosion.

"If (Mark) believed in the cause, he went all out. He usually didn't get involved with causes he didn't believe in," family friend Virgil Handke said Sunday. "He gave it his all and he expected that from all participants, Hundke said.

Hundke and Croghan (pronounced Cron) were members of the West High dance squad's parents association and the dancing dada group. Croghan's Son, Scott, is a sophomore at West High. Croghon is also survived by his wife Carol, and son Adam, a junior at Iowa Stage University.

Haudke said Croghan had fourth-degree burns on 80 percent of his body. His communication with family was very limited. He had been through several surgeries and had trouble maintaining his oxygen level.

"Mark is going to be really missed," Handke said. "I know he's going to be missed at his work, but also at his extracurricular activities at West High,"

A benefit breakfast for Croghan and his family held October 11 raised $9,400.

"Their heart goes out in thanks to the community for the help they have given," Haudke said.

Croghan was the second family from the explosion at the plant. Kyle heck, 22, of Hornick, Iowa, died Sept. 9 at Nebraska Medical Center.

Six other men were injured in the blast. Richard Scott, 24, and Patrick Swanson, 44, both of Sioux City; Dusty Hannah, 26, of Moville, Iowa; William Beck, 41, of Onawa, Iowa; Carl Parker, 40, Eagle Grove, Iowa, and Eric Ploen, 23, of Kingsley, Iowa. They have all been released from medical institutions.

The explosion at the AGP soybean processing plant, located in the Port Neal Industrial Complex, occurred while the plant was shut down for scheduled maintenance. The State Fire Marshal's Office continues to investigate what ignited hexane gas and caused the explosion. Hexane gas is a highly flammable chemical used to extract oils from seeds and vegetables, including soybeans.

A fund for the Croghan family's medical and other expenses has been established at U.S. Bank.

Checks can be made to the Mark Croghan Benefit Fund and mailed to U.S. Bank at 2900 Hamilton Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa 51104,

Donations also can he made at the bank's Sioux City branches at 501 Pierce St. and 4608 Morningside Ave. and at its Onawa, Iowa, branch as 1030 10th St., Onawa.