Norman Kropf

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: 00059-3945.2
• Residence: 1891, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mennonite
• Occupation: 1901, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; ?

Notes:

Norman Kropf

The death occurred at his home in Kitchener on Friday evening, August 14th of Mr. Norman Kropf, a former resident of New Hamburg. He had been in poor health for several months, but a paralytic stroke suffered in the forenoon resulted in his death.

The deceased was in his 58th year, being born on August 28th, 1878, at Pine Hill, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Kropf. He spent practically all his life in this community where he had a host of relatives and friends who mourn his passing.

The late Mr. Kropf was an active member of the First English Lutheran Church at Kitchener and was a member of the brotherhood of that church. He was married to Lorena Betzner, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Betzner, of New Hamburg, who besides his two sons, Emmett and Lorne, both at home, are left to mourn his death. He also leaves three brothers and one sister, Herbert Kropf, New Hamburg, Edwin, of Earl Grey, Sask., Jacob of Stratford, and Mrs. Lovina Gerrard, of Toronto.

The funeral was held on Monday afternoon with services at the Schreiter-Sandrock funeral home in Kitchener, conducted by Rev. Mr. Hertel, followed by internment in Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg.

Quite a number of relatives and friends from New Hamburg and district attended the last sad rites.


New Hamburg Independent, August 15, 1936

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Married - The marriage of Miss Lorena Betzner, eldest daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Isaac Betzner, of this town, to Mr. Norman Kropf, also from here, was solemnized by Rev. Mr. Behrens, pastor of the English Lutheran Church at Berlin, on Wednesday. Owing to the recent bereavement in the bride's family the wedding was a quiet affair. The newly married couple left on a short wedding trip and intend to leave here for Ceylon, Sask., where they intend to locate. Their many friends wish them a happy and prosperous wedded life.


New Hamburg Independent, March 3, 1916

Norman married Lorena Estella Betzner 1 Mar 1916, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Lorena (daughter of Isaac Betzner and Catharine Ernst) was born 26 Feb 1881, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 23 Mar 1937, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100687337
• Military: RCR & RCAF WW2
• Name: Emmet Kropf
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0958.44
• Residence: 1937, 95 Benton St., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Kropf, Emmett - Passed away at K-W Health Centre of Grand River Hospital, on Tuesday, July 9, 1996 in his 80th year.

Beloved husband of Pat (Forler) Kropf for 45 years. Dear father of Jamie Kropf and his wife, Shelley of Kitchener. Loving grandfather of Matthew, Meghan and Jillian. Emmett will be sadly missed by his precious aunt and godmother, Elena Ritz; his cousins, Dick Ritz and his wife, Chris, Ernie Ritz and his wife, Betty, all of New Hamburg and his sister-in-law Gladys Kropf of Waterloo. Predeceased by his brother, Lorne Kropf and his special aunt, Sophia Betzner. Emmett will be lovingly remembered as a special member of the Forler family.

Mr. Kropf served for five years in the RCR and RCAF during the Second World War. He was a charter member of the New Hamburg branch (No. 532) of the Royal Canadian Legion and a long time member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Kitchener. Mr. Kropf was also a retired employee of the federal government (Canada Customs) with 26 years of service.

Mr. Kropf's family will receive friends at the Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo today (Thursday) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Friday, July 12, 1996 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Kitchener at 2 p.m. Following cremation, internment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg. Memorial donations to St. Mark's Lutheran Church or the Poppy Fund, New Hamburg Royal Canadian Legion No. 532 would be appreciated.

The Record, July 11, 1996

James married Patricia Elizabeth "Pat" Forler 29 May 1951, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Patricia (daughter of Alvin Valentine "Butch" Forler and Esther Elizabeth Pauli) was born 29 Apr 1922, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 7 Sep 2018, New Hamburg, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Military: WW2
• Eby ID Number: 00006-0958.45

Notes:

Lorne E. Kropf

Lorne E. Kropf, 47, of 288 Normandy Rd., Waterloo, died suddenly Monday of a heart attack at his residence. He was born in Kitchener, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kropf and had resided in the Twin Cities all his life. Mr. Kropf was employed at the Dominion Electrohome Industries Ltd. and a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Bridgeport. He was a former member of the church council and a member of the New Hamburg branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He served overseas as a flight lieutenant with the RCAF in the Second World War and was the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross. Surviving are his wife, the former Gladys Schmidt, who he married May 19, 1951 in Kitchener; one daughter, Laurie Kropf, at home and one brother, Emmett Kropf, Kitchener. The body will be at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home until 11 a.m. Thursday when removal will be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, for service at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, New Hamburg. Donations to the Ontario Heart Foundation will be accepted as expressions of sympathy

Kitchener-Waterloo Record, July 26, 1966

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Good news came to New Hamburg relatives and friends last weekend when it was reported that Pilot Officer Lorne Edward Kropf had arrived safely at Gibraltar after failing to return to his base after an operational flight on the night of Sept. 16. The glad tidings came to his aunt, Miss Soph Betzner, in a telegram from Ottawa last Friday evening.

The telegram read: "Pleased to inform you that advice has been received from the R.A.F. casualty officer overseas that your nephew, P.O. Lorne Edward Kropf, arrived safely at Gibraltar on Oct. 26. Letter follows."

This good news was reassured the following day when Miss Betzner received a cablegram from Lorne directly.

Further news is awaited with curiosity to learn what trying experience the airman encountered during the six weeks his whereabouts were unknown and how he eventually reached Gibraltar in safety.

The crew that Lorne was with at the time which failed to return to their base consisted of seven, six Canadians and one Englishman. In a letter to his brother, Sgt. Emmett Kropf, of Camp Borden, dated Sept. 14, he wrote that he was with a very fine crew and that they were getting along nicely. The other five Canadians were all listed as "missing, believed killed."

P.O. Kropf arrived overseas last Christmas. He was attached to the R.A.F. and has been in action over enemy territory for some time. He and P.O. Robert Ernst, Waterloo, now home on leave from overseas, are second cousins. The latter had been wounded twice while in action.

Kropf eventually received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service to Canada in the Second World War.

A second local airman also went missing in action in Europe at around the same time. From the Nov. 1 edition of the Independent, in an article titled "Pilot Officer Ray Shirk Reported Missing":

The second local casualty in the war was announced over the week end when it was reported that Pilot Officer Ray Shirk was missing after operations in Egypt. He is a nephew of Mrs. Harvey Gampp with whom he made his home while attending the local school and K-W Collegiate.

He enlisted before he was 18, and had to have the consent of his parents before his application was accepted. Mr. and Mrs. Gampp received a letter this week that he was enjoying life in Egypt and had been successful in damaging two enemy planes.

New Hamburg Independent 6 nov 1942

Jamie — Shelley Elizabeth Bergen. (daughter of Gordon Bergen and Lois Hertzberger) [Group Sheet]