Kenneth J. Kropkowski

Kenneth James Kropkowski, born Englewood, NJ March 18, 1957 to Casimir & Bernice (nee Olivet) Kropkowski. Ken was an athlete all his life and growing up in Dumont, NJ played baseball in Little League through Babe Ruth, and Pop Warner football. A 1975 graduate of Dumont High School, he played both baseball and soccer, earning Varsity letters in both and serving as Captain on both teams. He was awarded the Willard Quirk Student Athlete award in 1975. In 1979 Ken graduated from the US Naval Academy and subsequently graduated from flight school in Pensacola, FL and flew helicopters and in Executive commands for the US Navy. He served as an aviator in both the Grenada invasion and first Gulf War. He earned many commendations and retired from the Navy in 2010 having attained the rank of Captain.

Ken was an avid volunteer, especially for the wounded warriors and was also very active in the Medal of Honor Society. His career after the navy was as a motivational speaker and life coach. He enjoyed golf and played in fund raising tournaments, spent lots of time with his friends, enjoyed arguing the finer points of any topic and took advantage of all that life had to offer. He was a larger than life man with a personality that touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.

Ken was predeceased by his father Casimir (Mr.K), and is survived by his mother Bernice and 3 sisters Debbie (Maher), Kate (Horton) & Laurie (Kropkowski Davis) as well as his children Alexander, Zachary & Kendra, and several nieces and nephews whom he truly loved.

The family will receive friends Thurs. May 30 2-4 PM 7-9 PM at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, 3010 Ridgeway Rd. (Rt. 571), Manchester, NJ 08759, 732-657-5700. Funeral Mass Fri. May 31 11 AM at St. John's R.C. Church, 619 Chestnut St., Lakehurst, NJ 08733, 732-657-6347. Repast following cemetery from 2PM-5PM at LaBove Grande, 800 Rt. 70, Lakehurst, NJ 08733, 732-657-8377.

The family requests that donations be made in Ken's memory to his favorite charity, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. His wonderful patriotic personality will be missed by many. God rest his soul.