Edward Krass Obituary

Edward Stanislaus Krass

Born: May 4, 1930

Died: July 15, 2017

Col. Edward Stanislaus Krass, USMC (ret), formerly of Lemont, IL, passed away on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the age of 87.

He was born May 4, 1930 in Chicago, IL to Cyprian "Henry" and Julia (Gdowski) Krass. At an early age, his family moved to Lemont, IL, where he graduated high school and met a young lady, Rosemary Jeans. They dated two years before marrying on June 14, 1952, recently celebrating 65 years of marriage. Ed was later inducted into the Lemont High School Athletic Hall of Fame and was a middleweight Golden Gloves champion twice.

A football scholarship to Washburn University took Ed to Topeka, KS where he attained his undergraduate degree. Upon his graduation in 1953, he received orders to report to Quantico, VA for officers' training in the Marine Corps. He was then ordered to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA to set sail for Korea.

In 1955, the family moved to Anaheim, CA where Ed was hired at St. Catherine's Military School as the Assistant Commandant, teacher, and Athletic Director. After that, he taught and coached at Mater Dei High School. In 1960, the family moved to Orange, CA, where Ed began a career in the Santa Ana Unified School District. He received his Master's of Education Degree from Chapman College in Orange, CA and his PhD in Education from Western State College in Gunnison, CO.

Major Krass was recalled to active duty in 1966 and served in Vietnam from 1968 - 1969.

Upon returning from Vietnam, Ed returned to the Santa Ana School District becoming a Vice Principal then Principal at Saddleback High School. Thereafter, he was appointed Assistant Superintendent then Superintendent of the District.

In 1990, Ed and Rosemary retired to Durango, CO to be closer to family. Twenty-two years later, they relocated to Louisville, Windsor, and Greeley, CO.

As an officer of the U.S. Marine Corps, he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Vietnamese Medal of Valor, and two Purple Hearts. Ed retired as a Colonel in 1990, having served in Korea and Vietnam, being shot down in Korea and then Laos.

Ed had a great sense of humor. He enjoyed family, friends, golfing, football, fishing, and world travel.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemary; daughters, Diane (John) Knutson of Greeley and Michelle Tanaka of Burley, ID; three grandsons, Patrick (Stephanie), Matthew and Mark; siblings, Daniel Krass and Barbara (Earl) Carver; as well as sisters-in-law Virginia "Ginny" Krass and Ellen Gaffney, and brother-in-law William "Bill" (Cheri) Jeans.

He was preceded in death by his parents, twin daughters, and siblings, Henry "Hank" Krass, Helen Herman and Rita Kantowski.

On Saturday, July 22, a visitation will be held at 11:00a.m. and a Noon service at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1800 21st Ave., Greeley. On Saturday, July 27, there will be a 10:00a.m. visitation and rosary followed by an 11:00a.m. funeral mass at St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, 608 Sobieski St., Lemont, IL.

Memorial gifts may be made to TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado in care of Adamson, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, CO 80634 or to a charity of your choice.

Friends may leave condolences at adamsoncares.com.