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Richard George Kroes passed away Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at the Fort Meade Veterans Affairs Medical Center at the age of 70.
Son of Josephine Vanella and George Kroes, Richard was born Nov. 19, 1940 in Racine, Wis. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958 and served on active duty for 23 years, having completed tours in Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. He served two tours during the Vietnam War, returning with numerous service awards as well as the love of his life, Huong Tran, his wife with whom he had three children. They were married on March 14, 1973, in Tacoma, WA. After three years in Japan, they moved to Ellsworth Air Force Base, and shortly thereafter Rapid City, where he and his family have made their home since 1977. He retired from active duty as Chief Master Sergeant in October 1981, and continued to serve as a civil servant for another 17 years, until September 2000.
Richard will be remembered as an upright man of almost antiquated integrity and civil obedience. Rigorous and deeply reflective, his ears were delighted by classical symphonies and arias of opera, his hands were frequently busied soldering circuit borders and building amateur radios, his nose was often buried in books of mathematics, archaeology, and histories of Imperial Rome. A man grand in stature, yet humble in presence, his greatest passion was his family. His life was lived for their happiness; their happiness was his peace of mind. He loved his family, with vigor and without conditions.
Richard was a father and grandfather of joyful off-key song, faithful bedtime stories and goodnight kisses, long and scenic Sunday drives, overflowing Easter baskets, glorified birthdays and Christmases full of precious family rituals. He will be missed immensely by his survivors, among them, his wife, Huong Kroes, Rapid City; his son, Robert Kroes, Washington, DC; his daughters, Jeanette Kroes Gilotte, Lyon, France, and Anne Kroes, Northfield, MN; his granddaughters, Tasia and Seaira Kroes, both of Belgrade, MT.; his sister- and brother-in-law, Mary and John Langenfeld, Racine; and many nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Georgianne Turner.
Perceel: 64933676, section Q site 443 |
1940 - 2011 (70 jaar)
Taal
1912 - 2001 (89 jaar)
