Jack D. Cronk Jr., age 80, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, was welcomed into the arms of the Lord on May 4, 2024, at his home surrounded by his immediate family.
Jack was born on December 5, 1943, to Jack and Bernice Cronk, at Highland Park Hospital near Detroit, Michigan.
After graduating from Dearborn High School, he attended Michigan Christian College for a year and a half, then graduated from Wayne State University from the College of Pharmacy in June 1967. He was united in marriage to Ruth Nanette Rizer on June 30, 1967. He served for the United States Public Health Service as a pharmacist serving his selective service obligation and obtained his master’s degree in Hospital Pharmacy at WSU in 1972.
Over his highly successful and fulfilling career, Jack worked as a Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Information Center, Pharmacist, Director of Pharmacy, Corporate Director of Pharmacy, Vice President, President and COO for a pharmacy contract service, Vice President for Psychiatric Solutions Inc., and enjoyed many hospital pharmacy consultant jobs that took him to exciting places both in and out of the country.
During his 47-year career, Jack established the Centralized Order Entry process for HCA hospital pharmacies, which later became known as Telepharmacy, allowing pharmacists to do order entry work from home. He was honored by the Tennessee Hospital Association with the Meritorious Service Award for the Telepharmacy concept, which is now commonplace in the United States.
He constructed the Assembly Line within the pharmacy at Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, Florida, which was the first in the country. He employed PYXIS automated dispensing machines, rendering his pharmacy at Middle Tennessee Medical Center the most technologically advanced hospital pharmacy in Middle Tennessee. He was published in numerous medical journals, which included an article about phenol in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Jack was a member of the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, where he served as a deacon and then as an elder. He taught adult Sunday school classes, assisted with VBS, worked with the Caregivers Support Group, and the Hospital Ministry.
Jack enjoyed learning and was an avid student throughout his lifetime. Excelling personally and professionally during his career, he also enjoyed music and playing guitar. He also had a special appreciation for the desert landscape and culture of the Southwest, most notably in New Mexico where he worked with the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni Indians. He enjoyed gardening, birding, spoiling his dogs, and spending time with his family.
He was a man of great faith whose life demonstrated Godly leadership, which highly influenced countless lives. Throughout his life, he exemplified courage, strength, encouragement, love, and guidance for everyone to seek first, above all else, the kingdom of God.
He is survived by his wife Nanette of 56 years. He is also survived by daughter LeAnn Austin (Lewis), two grandchildren Dillon Austin, Brenna Sledge (Jeremy), and three great-grandchildren, Ethan, Nikolai, and Caitlyn. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Bryan.
Jack’s family will host a visitation service on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 from 1 pm until 3 pm and memorial service at 3 pm at Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN. A family burial will follow at Mt. Juliet Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Mt. Juliet church of Christ, 1 John Fund, 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.
Arrangements by Bond Memorial Chapel, 1098 Weston Drive, Mt. Juliet, TN. (615) 773-2663, www.bondmemorial.com
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