Gordon Krolzick

Gordon J. Krolzick, 91, of Benton Harbor, passed away Thursday, January 12, 2012 at South Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Community in South Haven. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 16, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Robert Confer officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma, with military rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to South Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Community. Those wishing to sign Gordon’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Gordon was born July 7, 1920 in Amery, Wisconsin to John and Matilda (Henning) Krolzick. On September 5, 1942 he married the former Ruth E. Kublick in Benton Harbor. Gordon was inducted in 1942 to serve his country during WWII in the US Army Air Corp. as a member of Company A 574th Signal Air Warning Battalion. He worked in engineering, flight training, radar and aircraft warning and was stationed in Leyte, Philippine Islands from January through August of 1945. He was discharged in February 1946 as a Tech 4. Gordon returned to Benton Harbor and gained employment with Whirlpool, retiring in 1980 after 35 years as a Product Development Engineer, with several patents to his name. Gordon was a member of American Legion Post #105 of Benton Harbor, the Wildlife Federation, National Rifle Association, and Ducks Unlimited. Gordon was devoted to his loving wife Ruth and his family. His love of reading expanded his innate intelligence enabling him to answer all the questions his children and grandchildren asked. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed listening to classical orchestra music and, on occasion, he became the “conductor.” Gordon had a uniquely wry sense of humor and a quick wit. He will be so deeply missed. Gordon is survived by his children, Marlene (Gary) Paganello of Royal Palm Beach, FL, Debra (Jerry) Anderson and Lenore Riccioni, both of Encinitas, CA, and Gordon (Tamara) Krolzick, II of Benton Harbor; 8 grandchildren, Jason (Jennifer) Kruger, Dustin Kruger, Paul Paganello, Brandon and Brooke Anderson, Adam and Angela Riccioni, and Breanne Birdsong; one great-granddaughter, Abigail Kruger. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth on December 9, 2007, his grandson Brian Anderson and his brother Harvey Krolzick.