Kim Bruce Aronoff

Kim Bruce Aronoff passed away on January 10, 2025, at Carl T. Hayden Veterans Medical Center after a long illness. He was born on July 9, 1955, in Colver, PA. He was the son of Dorothy (Dottie Dugan) McCracken and Kenneth Aronoff.
After graduation from High School, he immediately went to boot camp for the United States Marine Corp. His first day of active duty was May 31, 1974. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. After 10 years and 10 months of service, Kim and his family stayed in California so Kim could attend The School of Oceanography of Long Beach, California. After receiving his degree, he went to work for a company that worked on submarines in the North Sea. His job was to weld on the submarines. His family has pictures of him with his scuba gear and welding rod in the ocean. It was too hard on his family in the States for him to be gone all the time, so he moved home, and they moved to Arizona. Kim was a Union Ironworker, so he began working on commercial buildings in Phoenix.
Kim was a union member of Southwest Carpenters Union, Local 1912 and retired after working 30+ years in September of 2019. His last job was with DPR Construction which he was happy working there. Kim was a lifetime member of the American Legion at Post 29 in Glendale, AZ.
Kim loved to spend time with his friends and family. He enjoyed when the grandkids came over to swim and BBQ. He used to love to fish but of late, he loved hunting trips with his buddies the best. His football team was the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a big fan of Joe Greene's. He met him in the Airport on his way to Vietnam. Joe Greene shook his hand and bought him a beer. We loved to hear him tell the story about how big his hands were and what a nice guy he was. Recently, his daughter, Donalee, purchased an autograph signed pictured of #75 Joe Greene. What a happy day that was for him. He wasn't feeling well that day but we will never forget that big smile and got to hear the story again.
Kim was predeceased by his mother, Dorothy (Dottie Dugan) McCracken and his stepfather, Joseph McCracken. He was survived by his wife Donna Harris-Aronoff of Phoenix, AZ after 35 years of marriage, his son, Travis Aronoff of Durango, CO., his stepdaughter, Donalee Cassey of Orange, CA., his stepsons, Bernard W. Bechtel of Phoenix, AZ., Edward Bechtel, Joseph Bechtel, and Michael Bechtel of Cheyenne, Wy., as well as 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Military services will be held at The National Cemetery of Phoenix, AZ. and his Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion, Post 29 in Glendale, AZ. Date and time to be determined. Please come and share Kim's military service and his Celebration of Life with his family. He was one of a kind and will not be forgotten.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc. at P O Box 1055 in Indianapolis, ID 46206. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kim, please visit our floral store.