Edwin Kroon

 Edwin Harold Kroon, M.D.

Psychiatrist, Mentor, devoted husband and father. 

Edwin (Ed) died on June 23, 2024 at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center after a hard fought battle to continue the life he loved so much. He was born June 11, 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Edward and Susan Kroon. As a child he enjoyed camping and road trips with his parents and brother, Arnold and developed a lifelong love of the outdoors and travel. During WW2 he spent summers working on his uncle’s farm and learned about hard work. He attended Grand Rapids Christian High School and had treasured memories of his time and the people there. He fell in love with Colorado and the mountains during a family road trip to Denver in 1946.

Ed attended Calvin College 1948 to 1952 and graduated with a degree in pre-med, chemistry and biology. It was there he met his future wife of nearly 69 years, Ruth Belanus. They were engaged in 1951 but waited until 1955 to marry; due to his attendance at the University of Michigan Medical School. He graduated in 1956. 

Ed and Ruth moved to Denver for his internship at Porter Hospital. This was where their first daughter Sue was born. When a childhood friend developed schizophrenia it spurred Ed’s interest in psychiatry and he returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a residency at their Neuro Psychiatric Institute. While they were living there, daughters Karen and Laura were born. 

The next step in his life was two years of active service as a psychiatrist in the US Army. He served first at Fort Huachuca, Arizona and then at Fort Ord California. Ed and Ruth used this opportunity to explore both state’s natural wonders, hiking and camping with the family. 

Following his active duty, in 1962, Ed started working as the psychiatrist at Bethesda Hospital, a Christian Psychiatric Hospital in Denver. He remained there until 1988. While there, he also worked as a consulting Psychiatrist at Bethesda Midwest and Bethesda California, regularly flying to their locations. He provided training and served as a resource for Pastoral Counselors in the Denver area and Steamboat Springs. His children remember that he was almost always home for dinner but many an evening was spent in long conversations on the phone with patients or providers. During this time he also started a life-long participation in a variety of mission groups. These included Sun Valley, Rehoboth, the Baptist Mission of Nigeria and Christian Medical Society outreach programs.

Ed was a Life Member of the American Psychiatric Association and the Colorado Psychiatric Society. He also participated in the Christian Medical Society, serving terms as President of the Psychiatric and the Colorado sections.

In 1988 he started a Private Practice in the Denver area and part-time Medical Director of the Psych-Health Center in Grand Junction. In 1989 he began a long standing relationship with CompHealth working Locum Tenens assignments. This provided the opportunity for travel and exploration as well as the work he loved. It also provided the flexibility for mission work. 

He continued locum tenens work until 2013; achieving an award from the APA he was very proud of, for 53 years of service as a psychiatrist. He was always very private about his work but the many letters found after his death from grateful patients and colleagues over the years prove the value of his lifelong contribution.

 Ed took every opportunity to explore, hike and camp in Colorado and neighboring states. Over the years he accomplished numerous summits of 14,000 foot peaks, often with Ruth but also with the Colorado Mountain Club. Particularly memorable, was over a month long trip spent driving the Alaskan Highway (not paved yet) with their young daughters and touring Alaska together in a small tent trailer. 

When camping lost its allure for Ruth and as middle age approached, they bought a condo in the mountain town, of Grand Lake, on the western edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. This was an area that they had come to love. It was to be their refuge for many years. 

The last 10 years of his life he had to deal with his and Ruth’s significant health concerns. He cared for Ruth until her death in February 2024. He then moved to Cheyenne and was looking forward to continuing his life there near family and friends.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife Ruth (Belanus) Kroon and his brother Arnold Kroon. His life will be forever cherished in the lives of his three daughters; Suanne (Eric) Sittner of Centennial CO, Karen Kroon of Cheyenne WY and Laura (Bruce) Millar of Essex Junction VT, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, three nieces, one nephew and many friends.