Howard Kroll, Sr.

RACINE – Howard Richard Kroll, Sr.; age 80; passed away peacefully at Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints Medical Center on Saturday, May 7, 2016.

Howard was born in South Milwaukee on June 15, 1935 to the late Bernard and Margaret (nee: Hartfield) Kroll. On June 20, 1953 in St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church, he was united in marriage with Audrey Mae (nee: Janikowski). During his career, Howard was employed by Milwaukee Railroad and also drove semi-truck for a beer and wine distributor out of Mt. Clemens, MI. Howard then drove semi-truck for Roadway Transportation before retiring. They lived in Racine /Sturtevant area for many years until retiring to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Catholic by faith, Howard had been a member of St. Sebastian Parish. As an avid sports fan, he had coached his children’s teams – and had a special interest in golf, wrestling, NASCAR, horse racing and was an extreme Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan. Working on the railroad for so many years, Howard was also a train buff. Above all, he took great pride in his children and grandchildren.

Surviving are his loving wife of nearly 63 years, Audrey; their children, Howard John (Jackie) Kroll, Christine (Pedro) Lopez, Coleen (Mike) Wanek, Carla (Gregory) Wright and Cheryl (Scott) Zamecnik; grandchildren, Danica (Dan) Allen, Jarod (Danielle) Kroll, Jennifer (Hassan) Vargas Tobon, Joseph (Cristina) Goetzinger, Andrea (Tony) Market, Nicole (Mitch) Paulson, Benjamen (Courtney) Wanek, Bryan Wanek, Bryanna Wright; Nathan, Jeremey and Chelsea Zamecnik; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lorraine Shepard and Caroline Melcher; sister-in-law, Joan Kroll; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his brothers, Gene, Ray and Bernard Kroll; sister, Frances Marczewski; and brothers-in-law, Tom Shepard and Richard Melcher.
 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 11 am in St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 3126 95th Street in Sturtevant, with Rev. Ronald Gramza officiating.     Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday from 5:00 – 8:00 pm and in the church on Tuesday from 10 – 11 am.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association have been suggested. In honor of Howard’s passion for the Wisconsin Badgers, all are invited to wear their favorite Badgers attire (or red & white) to the visitation on Monday.

A special note of thanks to all of Howard’s devoted family members and friends who sent cards, well wishes and prayers during the past 11 months. Your kindness and support will forever be remembered!