Wally Krontz, 87

Aaron Wallace “Wally” Krontz, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, Jan. 27, 2019, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
He was born Sept. 15, 1931, in Colon, a son of the late Aaron Wallace and Mary Grace (Melchi) Krontz.
Wally enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948, serving in the Korean War with the 23rd Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. In November 1950, he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. He also was recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean United Nations Medal, Korean Service Medal, Occupation Medal of Japan and the Good Conduct Medal. Following his discharge from the Army, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving from 1952-1957 as a munitions man.
He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans , Jack Johnston Chapter 88 and Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and was a longtime member of Sturgis Church of Christ.
Wally enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling and playing softball.
On Feb. 8, 1964, he married Nancy Myers. She survives, along with a son, Brian (Julie) Krontz of St. George Island, Fla.; special adopted daughter Lucy (Rob) Cooke of Eastpoint, Fla.; four grandchildren, Angie (Aaron) Kuhn of Wawaka, Ind., Jason (his fiancée Brittney) Hunt of Mulberry, Fla., Katie (Luke) Neuman of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Andre Hall of Chicago; three great-grandchildren, Carter and Lillian Neuman and Samuel Aaron Kuhn; special cousins Sue Owen and Sandy Owen, both of Sturgis; an special friends Lester and Esther Schmucker of Sturgis and Melvin and Elizabeth Hostetler of Sturgis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Craig Douglas Krontz; two sisters, Alma Bush and Ellen McKercher; and seven brothers, Harold, Gerald, Donald, Robert, Richard, Leslie and Gordon Krontz.
The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sturgis Church of Christ, 901 N. Lakeview Ave., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Aaron W. “Wally” Krontz will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. The Rev. George Cleverley will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. Full military honors will be conferred by Capt. John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is entrusted with arrangements.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Wally’s memory consider Sturgis Church of Christ.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.