Douglas A. Krell

Douglas Alan Krell, 74, of Hamilton Square, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by his loving family on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Doug was born in Jersey City and raised in Rahway. He graduated from Union Catholic High School in 1969 and earned an accounting degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1973. He proudly served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1973 to 1977, reflecting his steady sense of responsibility and commitment to others.
In 1977, while working at Acme Markets in Edison, Doug met the love of his life, Mary Jo. What began as a chance meeting grew into a lifelong partnership. Together, they built a beautiful life and settled in Robbinsville in 1990.
Doug's greatest joy in life was his family. He and Mary Jo raised two children, Travis and Dana, who grew up involved in many sports and activities. Doug made it a priority to attend every game and event, serving as their biggest supporter both on and off the field. He was immensely proud of their accomplishments and deeply admired the adults they became.
He especially cherished becoming "Pop" to his four beautiful grandchildren and loved sharing stories and photos of them with everyone he met. Christmas was his favorite time of year, and celebrating his birthday on Christmas Eve made the season even more meaningful.
In addition to his devotion to family, Doug loved his career as an owner and operator of Classic Vending, where he proudly served clients for more than 20 years. A lifelong fan of all things Coca-Cola, his work held special significance. Over the years, Doug built countless relationships that grew into lasting friendships. For him, the job was never just about vending machines; it was about the people, the conversations, and the daily interactions that brought smiles to others.
Outside of work, Doug enjoyed the beach and family vacations in Wildwood Crest. He loved to read, particularly John Grisham novels and magazines, always eager to learn something new. His musical tastes spanned many genres, from oldies and jazz to the Beach Boys. He took pride in tending to his yard and completing small projects around the house. He found joy in simple pleasures like sitting on the front porch with a cup of coffee or indulging his sweet tooth with an Entenmann's chocolate donut or a bag of potato chips.
Doug was a loving and devoted husband, father, "Pop", son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He will be remembered for his kindness, hard work, gentle humor, positive outlook on life, and his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone about anything. His legacy lives on in the laughter, love, and memories he leaves behind.
Predeceased by his parents, Douglas Alfred Krell and Edward and Helen (McGuffie) Bieler; Doug is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary Jo (Witkowski) Krell of Hamilton Square; his son and daughter-in-law, Travis and Erica Krell of West Chester, PA, and their children, Juliette Olivia and Sophia Gabrielle Krell; his daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Christopher Wendt of Matawan, and their children, Oliver George and Oakley Douglas Wendt; his sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Brian Curran of Eastampton, NJ; his brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Colleen Krell of Rahway, NJ; and many loving extended family members and dear friends.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church, 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690.
Burial will be private at a later date.
Friends and family are invited to share photos and memories of Doug using the Google Photos album here.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Doug's memory to The American Melanoma Foundation here.