Frederick Francis "Fritz" Kropf

Fritz Kropf, 83, founder of Fritz's Railroad Restaurant, went to be with his Lord early Saturday Morning, December 11, 2004. He succumbed to internal injuries after falling from his motor scooter one week earlier at Wyandotte County Lake. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2004, at Victory Hills Church of the Nazarene, 6200 Parallel, Kansas City, KS 66104. Burial will be in the Leavenworth National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m., Monday, December 13, 2004, at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested to Victory Hills Church of the Nazarene. Frederick Francis Kropf was born May 22, 1921, in Kansas City, KS, graduating from Wyandotte High School in 1939, where he was a member of the football team. In 1940, he joined the United States Navy, and was serving as a seaman-mechanic aboard the USS San Francisco. He was aboard ship in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked. He continued to serve aboard the "Frisco" until 1943, when he was transferred to Great Britain to serve as an LST driver for the Normandy invasion. While stationed in England, he suffered appendicitis just before the invations, and did not participate. However, after recovering, he was assigned as a driver for Charles Lindberg and participated in the location and transport of a number of German scientists back to the US for various programs including the fledgling US aerospace program. After his honorable discharge in 1946, as a Chief Petty Officer, he returned to Kansas City, KS, and began working at Phillips Petroleum Refinery. On May 18, 1952, he married Virginia Cook Collins, adopting her two children from her previous marriage to Daniel J. Collins, deceased. In 1954, they opened the first Fritz's drive-in restaurant at 32nd and Brown Avenue in Kansas City, KS, with Fritz working two jobs for several years to start the business. In 1966, he opened a second location at 250 N 18th Street, which continues in operation today by his son, Fred. He developed and patented the elevator and train system in use at both the 18th Street and his son's newer Crown Center location. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Virginia; and five children, Dan and Carol Collins, of Raytown, Patricia Zell of Ft. Worth, Jodie Green of Overland Park, Annette and Lloyd Pollard, of Lansing, and Fred and Mary Kropf, Of Lenexa, KS. Also surviving are his sister, Vivian, and her husband Robert Mathews, of Fairway, KS; and a brother James and Janet Kropf, of Torrance, CA. He leaves 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who mourn his passing. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, John and Mary Kropf; his older brother, John; and his sister Mary. He was a member of Victory Hills Nazarene Church, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, VFW Local Chapter 5851, the Kansas City Chapter of the Navy League, the International Fort Retractable Club, and USS San Francisco Ship Association, serving on various committees and holding a variety of offices in all organizations. He will be remembered for his keen mechanical skills, subtle humor, and no-nonsense attitude toward work, honesty, integrity, as well as his testimony to the power of God in his life. (Arr.: Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS (913) 621-6400)