Lillian Edna Zdonek Krogman
Lillian was born on Jan. 21, 1936 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Walter and Martha Zdonek. On October 25, 2024, in Placerville, California, she passed on to her eternal home.
Lillian leaves behind a strong legacy of faith, love, creativity, fun, and service to others.
Lillian grew up in Kingsville, Ontario, the third of five children. The foundation of her faith came from her parents who had emigrated from eastern Europe and who learned English from reading the Bible.
In Michigan, where Lillian worked when she was a young woman, she met and married John Krogman, who was starting his career as a federal agent with the ATF; thus began their nomadic life. With the ATF requiring relocation every two to three years, Lillian continually created beautiful homes and helped her three daughters adjust to new neighborhoods, churches and schools.
They lived in several mid-west states and made several moves between the Washington D.C. area and California. Throughout these moves and across the decades, Lillian kept up friendships she had made along the way; most notably with Ardis Krafft (a fellow ATF wife).
Lillian also developed her skills as a seamstress, creating beautiful clothes for her daughters and herself for many years. Another decades long friendship was with Ruth Abel, with whom she created detailed wooden Christmas ornaments. They used a jigsaw to cut out numerous shapes and then hand painted each one. These are family treasures for her daughters and grandchildren.
Lillian was also an avid painter. Her final creation was an extensive mural depicting different seasons and places around the world all on the back fence of her home in Citrus Heights, CA.
Lillian was always busy. An avid baker — she made incredible cheesecake, baked Alaska and orange cake. In addition, she managed and coached daughters soccer and softball teams and in the 1970’s worked on the initiative to get bike lanes in Mountain View, CA. Lillian also went to college at age 50 and earned her BA in Sociology while working full time.
Lillian will likely be most remembered for her strong Christian faith, which she lived out in her lifetime by being a humble servant, devoting herself to the reading of scripture and prayer and participating in her church.
Lillian is survived by her three daughters: Dawn (Rich) Amlin, Darlene (Tim) Manclark, and Dana (Steve) Covington; her eight grandchildren: Heather (Kyle) Bonvechio, Haley Bridges, Kyle (Jake) Rehmeier, Hannah Covington, Molly (Austin) Hall, Hudson Manclark, Hayden Manclark, and Harley Manclark; and her three great grandchildren: Riley Bonvechio, Lacy Covington, and Stevie Rehmeier.
It was a blessing that in the two weeks before her passing, all of these family members were able to visit and spend time with her. In addition, Lillian is survived by her younger brothers Ed Zdonek and Michael (Debbie) Zdonek.
The family wishes to thank everyone who knew and supported Lil during her life and especially her final years. In particular we wish to thank the caring staff at Eskton, Placerville, who made mom feel so welcome and loved. Per mom’s wishes, she will be interred in Kingsville, Canada next to her parents and older sister Virginia.
Funeral service to be held at First Lutheran Church, where Lillian was baptized and confirmed, located at 27 Spruce St. N., Kingsville on Saturday, May 31 2025 at 11AM. Friends of Lillian and her family are welcome to attend.
