Robert Krenz's Obituary
Robert Paul Krenz
April 20 1925 – October 26 2014
Robert “Bob” P. Krenz, 89, of St. Helens, Oregon passed away at his home on Sunday, October 26. He was born and raised in White Salmon Washington, eldest of five sons to Paul and Erna (Fuerstenau) Krenz.
Robert was drafted into the army at the age of 18, leaving from New York on a British passenger ship in 1944, as a member of General Patton’s 101st Airborne, 2nd Armored Division known as “Hell on Wheels.” He landed at Normandy and was later in the Battle of the Bulge, receiving a Purple Heart medal.
When he returned from the war in 1946, he married Betty Hoover of Longview, Washington on June 2nd. They were happily married for 68 years. Bob worked for Safeway, Thomas Food Center, Carnation Milk distributorship, local car sales, and retired from Napa Auto Parts in Scappoose, Oregon.
Bob’s lifelong commitment to God, family and community will be felt and remembered for generations to come. He served as an elder in and a member of Calvary and Grace Lutheran churches for over 50 years. He was a lifelong member of the St. Helens Lion Club receiving the national Melvin Jones Fellows and Oregon State Sight and Hearing Foundation Fellows awards for dedicated humanitarian service. This past year Bob and his family received the Oregon Food Bank “Hunger Buster” Volunteer of the Year for collecting recyclable beverage cans and bottles, which resulted in giving over $28,000 to the food bank in just 4 years.
He was an amazing role model for his wife and children Paul (Marcia) Krenz and Peter (Vicki) Krenz; grandchildren Camille (Greg) Whistler, Kim (Scott) Bennett, Lee Krenz, Aimee Krenz and Bethany (Jacob) Hull; great grandchildren Emmelia Whistler, Aaron Whistler, Andrew Whistler, Evan Hull and Eleanor Hull.
Bob made friends wherever he went and had a kind word and welcoming smile for everyone. He was a loving and faithful servant of God. He would light up a room just by entering, offering a handshake or hug to greet friends and strangers alike.
He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Erna Krenz and his brothers Delbert, Kenneth, Carroll and Donald.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to bring canned food items and/or recyclable beverage cans and bottles to the memorial service at Grace Lutheran Church on Saturday,
November 1,2014 at 10 a.m. The Food Bank van will be there for the collection.
Bob will be interred at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland with full military honors.
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