Arthur E. Kruschka

1925 - 2024

Arthur Edwin Kruschka passed peacefully on August 5, 2024 just a few weeks shy of his 99th birthday. He was born at home in Diehl, NJ on September 21, 1925 to Henry and Lucy (Weber) Kruschka. He spent his youth on the Jersey Shore, digging for clams, riding his bike, trading punches with the neighborhood bully, and working at the supermarket in Keyport to earn money to buy his first car in 1942. It was a 1929 Model T Roadster and he paid $50 for it. Not long after that, he would sign up to proudly serve his country as a Marine during World War II. Dispatched to the Asiatic Pacific Theater in 1944, he was part of the 4th Marine Battalion as a radar operator, initially serving in Guadalcanal, ending the war in Okinawa and was then transferred to Tsingtao, China where he would spend the remainder of his service as part of Operation Beleaguer.

Returning home after the war, he married his first wife and put himself through college by working as a janitor at the Lionel train factory in New York earning his undergraduate degree from Seton Hall and his MBA from New York University. He began his career working for the JC Penney company. He was blessed with his first child, Gretchen during this time.

Soon after Arthur would move across the country to California, settle near San Francisco and would meet Karen, the love of his life. Together they would move back East, live in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and eventually Virginia. They had a wonderful life together involving themselves in their church and community, building a business as realtors and welcoming their son Max. Arthur was very involved in his children's activities, building tree houses, horseback riding and sharing his life long passion for sailing with his daughter. He spent a good deal of time with the Boy Scouts as Scoutmaster for Max's troop and he participated in year round camping, selling Christmas trees and helping to fundraise.

He was a dedicated Rotarian and enjoyed making delicious breakfasts and baking as a hobby. He baked communion bread for church and liked to share his delectable scones with friends and neighbors. He loved country music, Hank Williams or Johnny Cash and Big Band music, especially Glenn Miller. The local fire department treated him to a ride in a fire engine for his 98th birthday and it was a sight to behold with him in the front seat blowing the horn.

Born at a time when milk was delivered in glass bottles and not homogenized, Art had been in every US state except for Vermont. He was feisty and independent to the end, and kept his mind sharp by adding and subtracting numbers in his head for fun. He didn't like warm beer, wet toilet seats or smart alecks. He will be missed by family, friends and caregivers alike. Arthur is survived by his son Max Kruschka and daughter Gretchen Gray, her husband Ken and grandchildren Kenny and Adam. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary St. Claire of Arizona, brother-in-law Robert Hutchinson and his wife Lisa of Albuquerque, NM and their sons David, Kevin and Daniel and brother-in-law Stan Hutchinson and his wife Kim also of Albuquerque. He was predeceased by Karen, his beloved wife of 53 years, his parents and brother Richard Kruschka.

Arthur's memorial service will be held on what would have been his 99th birthday, Saturday, September 21st at Noon, at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 12700 Black Forest Lane, Woodbridge, Virginia, with a reception to follow in the church hall. Come and celebrate his long life, well lived.

The family would like to thank Brightstar for the wonderful caregivers that they provided in his final years, as well as the social workers at the Veterans Administration and Prince William County, the numerous doctors who gave him the best care as well as neighbors and church family who were an important part of his life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his memory to the Rotary Club of Lakeridge, PO Box 7537, Woodbridge, VA 22195