Jerold Laverne Krumwiede

Captain Jerold Laverne Krumwiede, U.S. Navy, passed away peacefully on July 14, 2025 of natural causes. He was 94 years old.

Jerold was born on October 6, 1930, in St. John’s Hospital, St. Paul, MN to Viola and Emil T. Krumwiede. He attended school in Kansas, Missouri and Fairmont, MN. He graduated from Fairmont High School in 1948. As a young man he worked on his uncle’s farm in Minnesota and  was very active in high school sports, including track and football. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and attended Northwestern Prep School in Minneapolis. In 1950 he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Jerry graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1954. In 1956, he attended electronics administration school at Great Lakes Naval Station. Following graduation, he was assigned duty as Gunnery Officer on USS Frank Knox (DDR 742). In 1957, he attended U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, earning a Master of Science in Physics.

His West Coast career focused on nuclear weapons at the Nuclear Weapons Training Command, engineering assignments on USS Yorktown (CV 10) and duty on Commander Destroyer Squadron 17 Staff from 1962-64.

On the East Coast, Jerry attended the Naval War College, earning a Master of Science in International Affairs. While serving as a physics instructor at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD from 1965-67, he received a Master of Science in Personnel Administration from G.W. University in Baltimore, MD. His next assignment was Executive Officer of USS Morton (DD748) prior to duty as operations officer for cruiser-destroyer Flotilla Eight from 1968-70, serving tours during the Vietnam War.

Following those tours, he became Commander of the USS Mullinix (DD944). Under his command during the Cold War era, the Mullinix made two unprecedented Black Sea cruises.

He then served as Surface Operations Officer, COMCARGROUP 4 Staff, followed by two years as Fleet Readiness Officer, CINCUSNAVEUR Staff in London, England. Following this duty, he served four years on the Deputy CNO for Surface Warfare Staff, in command and control of electronic warfare programs.

During his career in the Navy, Captain Krumwiede was awarded the Gallantry Cross, Vietnam Service Medal (1 Star), China Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation (2 Stars), and the Legion of Merit.

Captain Krumwiede retired from the US Naval Service in January 1980. He joined MATRIX Corporation and became Vice President for Surface Surveillance Systems. After twelve years he joined TRACOR/BAE Systems Corporation as a Project Manager in ASW Warfare Systems on AEGIS Cruisers and Destroyers. He was employed by Alion Science and Technology Corporation as a Science Advisor in the Littoral Combat Ship Program. During this period of employment, he was certified by the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional and awarded the Software Engineering Institute’s certification in Capability Maturity Model Integration.

Jerry found happiness and further fulfillment during his retirement in Leesburg, VA. In 1982, he became a Master Gardener and member of St. James Episcopal Church property committee. He was also a devoted and generous volunteer for the Loudoun County Food Bank, serving citizens in need.

Jerry was an extraordinary man who was deeply loved by his wife of 68 years, Lois; his children, Laurie, Matthew, Jane, and Karen along with their spouses and partners; and his grandchildren, Teddy, Anders, and Erika.

Notifications of services and memorials will be announced at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Jerry's memory be made to St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg (https://onrealm.org/StJamesChurchLeesburg/-/form/give/24) and/or Loudoun Hunger Relief (https://loudounhunger.org/donate-now/)