Philip Anthony Krajeck

Philip Krajeck Obituary
Philip was born in Minnesota, the third of four children of James and Lillian Krajeck. He graduated from Holdingford High School where he was President of the Student Council and an all-around athlete, being an all-conference selection from his undefeated high school football team.
He graduated with an engineering degree from North Dakota State University. Phil was a member of and lived in the Sigma Phi Delta engineering fraternity house where he performed kitchen duty for his meals. After graduation, he entered the Air Force via the ROTC program. During his initial assignment in England, he fell in love with and married Astrid Pedersen from Oslo, Norway. Together they were blessed with four children.
After achieving his Masters of Engineering from Syracuse University, he was assigned to Eglin Air Force Base and, upon completion of his military commitment, became a civil servant. A desire for varied work led to a 12-month special assignment with the Office of Secretary of Defense in Washington, D.C., followed by being twice selected for positions in Europe. At the time of his retirement, half of his professional career had been in Europe living in England, Germany, and Belgium. At NATO Headquarters in Brussels, he was the Executive Coordinator for the Assistant Secretary General and later Head of Air Armament Section.
After retirement from NATO, the family returned to the Fort Walton Beach area, where he and Astrid built their retirement home. In his final professional position, he was the General Manager for a defense contractor at Eglin AFB.
When their children were young, Phil enjoyed coaching baseball and basketball, both locally and in Europe. After leaving coaching, he enjoyed meeting and exchanging stories with his former players.
Phil was a member of the Fort Walton and Eglin Yacht Clubs (Rear Commodore), MOAA, and the Okaloosa Republican Club. He walked, cycled, played tennis and golf, ushered at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center and was an avid reader of nonfiction literature. As a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church, he participated in their usher and outreach programs.
He is survived by wife, Astrid and children: Mike, Barry (Rachel & Gabe), Linda (Mike & Grant), and Philip (Anastasia); and his three favorite granddaughters: Kai, Courtney, and Maya Astrid. The family would like to thank Drs. Brown and Hsiang and their staff for their caring, long-term support.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Fort Walton Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, a request is made for contributions to Saint Mary Catholic Church (https://saintmary.life/).