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Frank Kroetch 1927 - 2001

Frank Edward Kroetch of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington United States was born on March 25, 1927 in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County to Dorothy Elaine (Ferguson) Kroetch and Hollis Joseph Kroetch. Frank Kroetch had siblings Elaine Marguerite (Kroetch) Bell Gillett, Hollis Frederick Kroetch, and Norma (Kroetch) Erickson. He married Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch on March 26, 1949 in Bellingham, Whatcom County and they later divorced in July 1968 in Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho. They had children Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna and Pam (Kroetch) Marks. He would also marry Carol (Antonsen) Kroetch on December 28, 1968, and they were married until Frank's death on July 12, 2001 in Bellingham, Whatcom County. They had a child John Hugh Kroetch.

Frank Edward Kroetch

Frank Kroetsch, Frankie

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington United States

March 25, 1927

Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States

July 12, 2001

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington, United States

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Frank Kroetch Frank Kroetch (1927 - 2001)

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Frank Edward Kroetch's History: 1927 - 2001

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Introduction

Frank Kroetch was one of four siblings and was born to Dorothy Elaine (Ferguson) Kroetch and Hollis "Joe" Joseph Kroetch. As far as I know (grandson), Frank and his brother & two sisters had a bit of a rough childhood, having been separated into different groups living with various family members. He was one of the youngest to serve on the USS Killen for the U.S Navy in World War II. In fact, he lived his entire life thinking he was the youngest crew mate on the ship (he lied about his age to serve in WW2), but found out in the late 1990's at a Killen shipmates reunion in San Francisco that one lad had him beat by a handful of days. He married Marian "Joyce" Benning and had two children Kathy Pinna and Pamela Marks. He later married Carol (Antonsen) Kroetch and they raised John Kroetch. He was a very smart man (with an IQ that tested between 165 and 185) and good looking - charismatic! He was a life-long entrepreneur starting numerous businesses in various industries after attending the University of Washington and graduating from San Jose State University. He lived in both California (where his daughters were born) and Washington (where he was born and died). Frank was never baptized (as far as his child Kathy knows) and has no burial site. He was cremated and his ashes distributed between his wife and two daughters. He was quite a human being and we all miss him every day.
03/25

1927

Birthday

March 25, 1927

Birthdate

Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County, Washington United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Frank was primarily a mixture of French, German, Welsh and Scottish heritage. For most of his life Frank believed that he was predominately German, but he sat down one day - in the 1990s - and looked at the genealogy on his father's "Kroetch" side. He noticed that his paternal side included Germans that emigrated from Germany in the early 1840s and that once they settled in Canada, they began marrying women of French descent. These women were the descendants of the "daughters of the King" - the women who were sent by the King of France to marry French soldiers who had settled in Canada. Modern genealogists consider these women the equivalent to our Mayflower ancestors. So Frank discovered that the "Kroetch" line married into a French line that colonized Canada in the 1640s. When he looked at this, he decided that there was more French in his line than German. In actuality, I - his daughter - have very little French or German in my DNA. My DNA mainly reflects the UK part of my heritage. I think this comes from the fact (in terms of the traceable family tree), my father's mother and his father's mother were Scottish. While my father's maternal side emigrated from Scotland in the 1740s, they were in Virginia and mainly married other Scottish and Welsh descendants. His father's mother, while born in Kansas, had parents who were both born and raised in Scotland. Pam's note: Dad had a strong English/German heritage from his maternal grandmother's Boggs ancestor's.
Nationality & Locations

Frank was born and raised in Washington state in the United States. He lived primarily in various locations near Puget Sound in Washington state, although he did live in San Jose, Carmel, and San Diego California and Delta Canada, as well, for a couple of years.
Early Life & Education

Frank attended the University of Washington for two years after leaving the navy. He was given a grant to attend the University of Munich to study the German language. He and his newly married wife, Joyce Benning, packed up for New York to sail to Germany. Upon their arrival in New York, the couple found out they were pregnant and the German University wouldn't accept them. The couple set off cross-country for San Jose, CA as Joyce had a best friend that lived there. Frank attended San Jose State College and graduated in 1955 with two degrees in Philosophy and Psychology; he also had enough units for a Business degree but State would only allow two, so he opted for the two he received-at that time he thought a degree in Business wasn't relevant. He was very interested in the law and had been accepted into law school at the University of San Francisco, but we moved to Seattle Washington before he could attend. Frank never graduated from high school - he signed up for the Navy in World War II and he had a couple more years to complete high school. He told me that when he got out of the Navy, he felt that he was too old to return to high school. Frank approached the admissions department at UW and asked if they would allow him to attend if he passed the entrance exams. He had to ask three times before they agreed, as they thought he would not pass and just quit pestering them. Frank passed the test and was admitted when the new quarter started.
Religious Beliefs

My father described himself as an "agnostic" (he told me that he would have said atheist but if he didn't have proof one way or another, and he wouldn't take a definitive stand). He only set foot in a church for weddings or when his daughters sang in the choir. He also attended the funeral of his "Big Aunt Norma." Pam's note: several years before he passed away, my father and I were discussing death. He told me he was an atheist and I asked him why. He mentioned his years as a philosophy major, studying all the different religions and belief systems. His belief was that upon his death, he would return to the earth and become part of the universe, and he said he was happy with that. I spread some of his ashes in Sacred Wind, KY where his maternal grandparents had lived, and we had traveled there in 1998. He was thrilled to be there. I know that would have made him quite happy!
Military Service

Frank was a proud veteran of World War II, having served as a plankholder on the USS Killen, a destroyer that patrolled the Pacific Ocean. Throughout his life, he shared several tales of his experiences during the war. Frank believed that he was the youngest member of the ship, having lied about his age to enlist in the Navy. However, during a USS Killen Reunion in San Francisco around 1999, he discovered that there was another sailor who was just a few days younger than him. Frank also recounted a haunting memory of the time when a bomb went off near the kitchen on the ship, tragically killing a sailor in the meat locker. As a result of this tragic event, the crew was forced to subsist on a diet devoid of any protein for a prolonged period. Kathy, his daughter who noted these memories, added that she was told by others that multiple sailors had lost their lives in the meat locker and that the crew mainly lived off rice until they could reach drydock for the ship to be repaired. This traumatic event had a lasting impact on Frank, as he avoided eating rice for several years after the war. However, after discovering Chinese food, Frank became a huge fan of rice. Enlistment date: September 13, 1943, Seattle, Wa as 'apprentice seaman'; his home address at time of entry was Satsop, WA While 'off duty' Frank completed his GED Frank served on the USS Killen, USS Grant, USS Fletcher and USNAS, Norman, Oklahoma Frank was awarded the "Ancient Order of the Deep' as a 'Trusty Shellback' on the USS Killen (DD593). September 13, 1944....having crossed the equator On November 1, 1947 Frank was rated a Fireman 1st class Frank received the following for his service during WWII: American Area Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Philippine Liberation Medal World War II Victory Medal Frank was honorably discharged March 24, 1947; his discharge address was noted as 622 Quebec Place NW, Washington DC (which is also stated as his home address) Frank was paid a subsistence allowance of $65/month starting September 3, 1947 and the extent of entitlement until June 25, 1949 (note: Frank used this for his college education which began at the University of Washington, Seattle and continued to San Jose State in San Jose, CA) See below for images from Frank's time in the service: USS Killen at floating drydock Painting of the USS Killen Frank Edward Kroetsch Frank Kroetsch Damage to the USS Killen "C" Division - USS Killen
Professional Career

Frank was an entrepreneur and businessman. He had a good start early on in his career working for General Mills. Note from Kathy Pinna - When my father graduated from San Jose State, he was sent a few telegrams offering him a job. I don't have the telegrams but I've seen them. In any case, I was told that he was weighing an offer from San Jose State to be a professor (in the philosophy dept?) and also from General Mills. He went to work for General Mills in their corporate office in San Francisco, as a buyer for the west coast. Per an article in the San Francisco Examiner, Saturday, December 22, 1956: "Here are the results of the course, which holds its last session next week: One man, Frank E. Kroetch, an ingredient buyer for General Mills, has his reading speed up to 988 words per minute. That means he would be able to read better than two columns of this length in less than a minute. The average reading speed of the men when they started this course was about 250 words a minute. They have boosted the average to 360 words per minute now. Robert Conlin, the man who suggested the course and got $25 for the idea, started the sessions and then dropped out. Reason: He got promoted to general flour salesman midway through the course and had to concentrate on his new duties." My mother, sister, and I used to take him to the train in Sunnyvale every day - we lived in Cupertino at the time and it was the fastest and easiest way for him to commute. As I recall, he worked there for a few years and I was told that he was the fastest rising executive at the time. He rose to the grain manager for the West Coast in that short time and he was told that no one had ever been promoted so quickly. They said that he would be president of General Mills within 20 years. Well, Dad thought that 20 years was too far away so he quit! My memory of those days were the perks - we were sent "food baskets", in those days food boxes of General Mills products and we were able to purchase General Mills products through a employee catalogue. I saved up my allowance - I was about 8 and it was 10 cents a week - to buy a Tiny Tears doll. I loved it when he worked at General Mills. He had a very sharp mind and knew how to see possibilities and opportunities in front of him. As a result, he was involved in numerous industries and owned many businesses over the years. In 1960 he was the President of his company, Data Services Corporation. In 1961, he and his brother Fred were supporters of a new magazine to be called "Northwest" that would use color photos to promote Washington tourism. Frank also started a car rental service called "Letz Rent-a Car" in the early 1960's He had a business in Idaho, owning a lodge at Coeur 'd Alene and was involved in many California businesses: President of Golden Bear Land Company in Salinas (incorporated in Nevada) Western Inns, Incorporated Travel Lodge in San Jose Several 'fast-food' restaurants Later in life, he owned a few restaurants in Washington State. Frank was also an author - having written a few short stories, one of which was a science fiction take on The Night Before Christmas. (Note from Kathy: Dad always wanted to be a writer. He would write on yellow legal pads - remember, this was the 1950s and 1960s - and started books on such things as his theory about who the "real" Shakespeare was. My theory is that he just couldn't sit still long enough to write an entire book. But there were lots of starts on books. He also wanted to be a lawyer and even applied to - and was accepted by - San Francisco University Law School. We ended up moving to Seattle, however, and he never went to law school.)
Personal Life & Family

Ever the student, Frank was always thirsty for knowledge. He would look at anything - physical or situational - and figure out how it works, and what could be done better. He saw a future of where things were headed having been involved with the first concepts of credit cards, to using steel instead of wood for home building. He lied about his age to join the Navy in World War 2 (See Frank Kroetch: Military Service for more details.) and lost hearing in one ear because he was a "spotter" for the guns on the USS Killen. (Another note from Kathy: I remember he was a spotter on the big guns - the Killen was a destroyer - because of a story he told. The US had just developed a plane that looked a LOT like the Japanese planes. So when he saw the new US plane above them, he told them to move the gun to hit the plane. He narrowly realized that it was our plane and had them move the gun just in time. He was almost responsible for shooting down one of our own - and he was embarrassed by that.) A few years after the war he married Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch (from 1949 through July 1968) and they had and raised two daughters Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna and Pam (Kroetch) Marks in San Jose (Willow Glen), Cupertino California (where he was a councilman), Seattle, Washington (the University District) and Saratoga CA. In 1965, Frank met Carol Antonsen Kroetch who had a 5 year old child, John Hugh Kroetch. He and Carol married in December of 1968 and they were married until his death in 2001. He had two families for some time - one living in Saratoga CA and the other in Carmel, CA (although the only legal family until 1968 was the Saratoga family) He lived in Washington state for the last three decades of his life and travelled to California frequently to be with his daughters and grandchildren and to pursue business deals. He was the patriarch of his family and passed away suddenly sitting in his chair. (Note from Kathy: I was never told the actual events by Carol. What I 'heard" secondhand: Dad had driven from Bellingham (in the northern end of Washington state) to Olympia (the southern end of Washington state) that day. He had been feeling ill for some time. When he got home, he had eaten dinner and after dinner, he sat in "his" chair. He then asked Carol for a cookie. She went to the kitchen and returned with the cookie - and Dad had already suffered a cardiac event. Carol called emergency services but they were unable to revive him. Several hours later, I received a telephone call from a man who identified himself as the fire captain for Bellingham. He told me that Dad had died but declined to give me any details. I never heard more than that.
07/12

2001

Death

July 12, 2001

Death date

Heart Failure

Cause of death

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington United States
Death location

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08/dd

2001

Gravesite & Burial

August 2001

Funeral date
Ashes scattered in Sacred Wind, Kentucky
Burial location
Obituary

The following appeared in the Bellingham Herald in Washington State on August 19, 2001: Frank Edward Kroetch, age 74, of Bellingham, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, July 12, 2001. Born March 25, 1927 to Hollis Kroetch and Dorothy Ferguson in Aberdeen, Frank was raised in Whatcom County. His grandparents, George Ferguson and Nancy Boggs, settled in Goshen around 1904, after moving from Sacred Wind, Kentucky, making Frank a third generation Whatcom County resident. Frank joined the Navy in 1943, serving as a Fireman 1st Class, aboard the USS Killen, USS Grant, and USS Fletcher, in the Pacific Campaign. He was decorated multiple times for his outstanding service. After the war, he attended the University of Washington in Seattle, later transferring to San Jose State University in California. He received dual degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, with a minor in Business Administration. Frank started his career as an executive with the General Mills Corp. in San Francisco. Possessing a high entrepreneurial spirit, he later pursued a number of other business ventures. He was a very creative and compassionate individual with great foresight. He was an avid reader, reading over 900 words per minute, and was once featured on a television program in California for his incredible speed reading ability. Also a history buff, he spoke fluent German, and treasured his family history and genealogy. Frank also took great pleasure in trading Navy war stories with his old shipmates on the USS Killen. Frank is survived by Carol, his loving wife of 33 years, his two daughters, Kathy Pinna, and Pam Marks, son-in-law Neil Marks, all of San Jose, Ca; a son John Kroetch and daughter-in-law Laura, of West Seattle; his grandchildren Daniel Pinna, Laynie Jacobs and Sophia Kroetch; sisters Elaine Gillette of Lake Stevens and Norma Finochiaro of La Jolla, Ca; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will be holding a private memorial service. Memorials may be made in his name to: World War II Memorial, American Battle Monuments Commission, PO Box 96766, Washington DC 200906766. --- Written by Grandson below--- Frank Edward Kroetch left this world as an accomplished entrepreneur having started numerous businesses (from restaurants to steel framed housing), a proven intellectual with the ability to interact with anyone about any subject, an author of various short novels (one of which I adore is a Star Trek themed "Night Before Christmas"), and a well admired, respected and a well-loved man. Frank was a brother to four siblings, a husband to two wives, and a father to three children: 2 by blood and 1 by parenting, and grandfather to three: 1 child from each of his two daughters, and 1 child from his son. He lived the majority of his life in Washington State with some years in San Jose, San Diego, & Carmel Valley California - as well as a couple of years in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. During the middle of his life he spent time in his home in Washington near the Sound then flew (with the help of a pilot!) to his home in Carmel Valley. I wish I had the opportunity to know him as a man and not simply as my grandfather. As I've matured and continue to find my path through life, I would have very much enjoyed discussions with him about all the very fun nuances of life. You remain well loved grandpa. - djp 11/28/2019

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Frank Kroetch lived 2 years longer than the average family member when died at the age of 74.

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92 Memories, Stories & Photos about Frank

Pam Marks

2.70k+ favorites

08/14/2024

Frank Kroetch

Frank with wife Carol, son John and granddaughter Sophie at the wedding reception of his daughter, Pam

Date & Place: April 4, 1998 in Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California United States

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Pam Marks

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06/07/2025

Carol (Antonsen) Kroetch

Frank and Carol Kroetsch with granddaughter Laynie

Date & Place: 1993 in Marysville, Snohomish County, Washington United States

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Pam Marks

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06/07/2025

Carol (Antonsen) Kroetch

Carol, Santa, Frank and son John

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Pam Marks

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06/07/2025

Carol (Antonsen) Kroetch

Carol and Frank

Date & Place: circa 1982 in Seattle, King County, Washington United States

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Pam Marks

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05/26/2025

Frank Kroetch

Frank with granddaughter, Laynie

Date & Place: 1988 in Mukilteo, Snohomish County, Washington United States

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Pam Marks

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05/26/2025

Frank Kroetch

Frank with granddaughter Laynie

Date & Place: 1998 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States

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Pam Marks

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05/26/2025

Frank Kroetch

Frank and daughter Pam

Date & Place: 1952 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States

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Pam Marks

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05/26/2025

Frank Kroetch

Frank and Joyce, a 'night out'....standing with daughters Pam and Kathy

Date & Place: circa 1954 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States

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Pam Marks

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05/26/2025

Frank Kroetch

Frank with his grandmother, Hellen 'Nellie' Steeples Kroetch Abbott

Date & Place: circa 1960 in Renton, King County, Washington United States

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Pam Marks

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05/26/2025

Frank Kroetch

Frank, standing in front of the Lorraine Apts in San Jose, CA

Date & Place: 1949 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California United States

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Frank Kroetch's Family Tree & Friends

Frank Kroetch's Family Tree

Dorothy Elaine (Ferguson) Kroetch Oct 18, 1905 - Aug 2, 1932

Hollis Joseph Kroetch Jan 1, 1903 - Feb 13, 1979

Hollis Frederick Kroetch Nov 21, 1925 - Jan 6, 1998

Frank Kroetch Mar 25, 1927 - Jul 12, 2001

Partner

Sibling

Child

Elaine Marguerite (Kroetch) Bell Gillett May 19, 1924 - Jan 29, 2007

Norma (Kroetch) Erickson Apr 5, 1929 - May 17, 2005

Marriage

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch

Frank Kroetch

March 26, 1949

Marriage date

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington United States

Marriage location

Divorce

Cause of Separation

July 1968

Divorce date

Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho, 83864 United States

Divorce location

Frank married Joyce one day after his 22nd birthday.

Notes

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Frank Kroetch Mar 25, 1927 - Jul 12, 2001

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch Oct 11, 1930 - Sep 10, 2017

Child

Pam (Kroetch) Marks born Jan 1951

Kathleen Rae (Kroetch) Pinna born 1949

Marriage

Carol Antonsen Kroetch

Frank Kroetch

December 28, 1968

Marriage date

Frank's Death

Cause of Separation

July 12, 2001

Frank's death date

Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington United States

Separation location

John was Carol’s biological son and Frank adopted John after he and Carol married.

Notes

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Frank Kroetch Mar 25, 1927 - Jul 12, 2001

Carol Antonsen Kroetch Aug 12, 1941 - Jun 5, 2020

Child

John Hugh Kroetch born 1960

Friendships

Frank's Friends

Neil W. Marks

Neil W. Marks was married to Pam (Kroetch) Marks in 1999. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Neil W. Marks.

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Charles Henry Barrett Jr. Apr 16, 1928 - Apr 29, 2009 Campbell, California, United States

Charles Henry Barrett Jr. of 2271 Highland Park Ln, in Campbell, Santa Clara County, California United States was born on April 16, 1928 in Missoula, Missoula County, MT to Charles Henry 'Heinie' Barrett Sr. and Ann (Boespflug) Barrett. He was in a relationship with Maryalys Barrett, and they were together until Charles' death on April 29, 2009. Charles Barrett was buried on May 6, 2009 at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park in San Jose.

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Other Biographies

Other Kroetch Family Biographies

Kroetch, Martin (Born Apr 9, 1858) Kroetch, Lawrence (Aug 23, 1892 - Nov 1976) Kroetch, Gertrude (May 25, 1884 - Jun 1969) Kroetch, Callistus (Born Aug 8, 1890) Kroetch, Marian (Oct 11, 1930 - Sep 10, 2017) Maxwell, Juanita (May 15, 1901 - Jul 3, 1935) Marks, Pam (Born Jan 1951) Gray, Margaret (Oct 2, 1882 - May 6, 1974) Kroetch, Ida (Apr 24, 1910 - Jul 18, 1993) Kroetch, John Baptiste (Apr 7, 1874 - Apr 30, 1945)

Kroetch, Dorothy (Oct 18, 1905 - Aug 2, 1932) Gillette, Elaine (May 19, 1924 - Jan 29, 2007) Kroetch, Frederick (Feb 16, 1889 - Aug 1970) Kroetch, Marian (Apr 21, 1929 - Sep 5, 1995) Kroetch, Anabelle Johannes (Born 1929) Kroetch Abbott, Hellen (Sep 27, 1879 - Sep 27, 1968) Rafferty, Wendy (Born Apr 25) Pinna, Kathleen (Born 1949) Kroetch, Dorothy (Apr 21, 1908 - Mar 1987) Kroetch, Lester (Sep 6, 1913 - Jan 8, 1999)

About the AncientFaces Community

Frank Kroetch 1927 - 2001

Frank Edward Kroetch's History: 1927 - 2001

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Nationality & Locations

Early Life & Education

Religious Beliefs

Military Service

Professional Career

Personal Life & Family

Death

Gravesite & Burial

Obituary

92 Memories, Stories & Photos about Frank

Frank Kroetch's Family Tree & Friends

Frank Kroetch's Family Tree

Marian Joyce (Benning) Kroetch

Frank Kroetch

Carol Antonsen Kroetch

Frank Kroetch

Frank's Friends

Other Kroetch Family Biographies