Jerry was born on July 16, 1929 to immigrant parents Sam Kruman and Bella Rabner Kruman in Altoona, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Schenley High School in Pittsburgh in 1947, he enlisted to serve in the United States Army and served overseas in Austria and Guam during the Korean War. His accomplishments included handling confidential information in Guam, desegregating his unit in Austria, and meeting the love of his life, Marjorie Jean Conner. Jerry met Marge, a member of the Womens Army Corps, while both were stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Jerry had been notified by a friend in Camp Lee, Virginia, that an attractive WAC from his home state was being assigned as a pioneering woman to be in the first group of women to be assigned to a historically all-male unit. Jerry made sure to greet her upon her arrival and after many dates, they were married on a weekend pass. They married in April 1951, and welcomed their first child, Mark Steven Kruman, in 1953, and their second child, Carolynn JoAnn Kruman, in 1961.
After his Honorable Discharge in 1953, the family resided initially in Pittsburgh, PA, then moved to Levittown, PA in 1958, where Jerry and Marge would spend the remainder of their years together. He secured a sales role as a Fuller Brush Man, then Marge found an advertisement for a salesman as a Prudential life insurance agent, for which Jerry was promptly hired. He quickly rose to the top of the sales force due to his great grasp of figures and facts, pleasant mannerism, and constant dedication to do the right thing for his clients. He earned many corporate awards and was once honored as the top agent in the Eastern Home Office Territory: an honor achieved by very few people in the company. In 1983, his son Steve joined the now-family-business, and the team propelled the business to success. Steve had the privilege of working with his father for an incredible three-and-a-half decades, until the time Jerry retired in 2018, leaving Steve to continue the family tradition of doing what is best for their clients.
Career success was great, but Jerry's heart has always been with his family. He chose a lifetime career that enabled him the freedom to be there for the family any time, for activities or injuries, for travel, emotional support, and more. He said that his goal was to "not be the richest man in the cemetery."
Jerry was loved by all who knew him - most of all, his family. Jerry took pride in the accomplishments of his children, Steve and Lynn, including their families, respective careers, and sports. And, Jerry's love for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren was clear to all. His briefcase boasted a bumper sticker that read, "Let me tell you about my grandchildren." He loved to do that, and that later included his great grandchildren, too. "Grandpa Jerry," as he was best known, was the best grandfather his 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren could hope for. They looked forward to calls and stories about Grandma and the Army, and will miss them greatly.
If he had seen one, another sticker reading, "Let me tell you about my wife," would have been pasted on "The Briefcase," too. Marge passed in 2004, and Jerry loved to show everyone her picture from his wallet, sharing his love for her. Jerry loved Marge very dearly, and he missed her so much after her passing.
Jerry was a lifetime baseball fan. Jerry worked at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh from age 11 to age 17 and had such experiences as assisting Rip Sewell while he was inventing the "Eephus" pitch, plus served as the Bat Boy for the Homestead Grays in a wartime exhibition game.
At age 83, Jerry joined and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Despite his age, he accepted multiple service positions and was loved by all for his personality, wit, and willingness to serve humbly.
Jerry was preceded in death by his two siblings: Leonard Milton Kruman and Joel Kruman.
Jerry is survived by: his two children, Mark Steven Kruman and Carolyn JoAnn Rebuck, his ten grandchildren: Dara Kruman, Emily Jorgensen, Bryce Kruman, Bethanie Kruman, Hannah Kruman, Esther Kruman, Joy Kruman, Jennifer Toellner, Lauren Lindstrom, and Grant Lindstrom, his seven great-grandchildren: Jane Jorgensen, David Jorgensen, Susan Jorgensen, Harry Kruman, Rockwell Kruman, Willow Kruman-Foley and Amelia Toellner, and his sister-in-law: BJ Kruman.
Jerry will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park, alongside his wife, to forever rest in peace.
Friends and family are invited to attend his services:
Viewing will be held 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM on Friday, June 17, 2022 at James J. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc. 2200 Trenton Rd., Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056.
Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1204 Pine Grove Rd, Morrisville. In advance of the funeral, friends are also encouraged to join the family at the same address for a light breakfast starting at 9:30 A.M. to celebrate his life and love of cocktail shrimp.
For those unable to attend but wishing to watch, the Memorial Service will be broadcast via Zoom at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/91847286370
Following the Memorial services around 1:45pm, Jerry will be laid to rest alongside his wife, to forever rest in peace, at Sunset Memorial Park 333 West County Line Road, Feasterville, PA 19053.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund, Philanthropies, 1450 N. University Ave., Provo, UT 84604 or the Pirates Charities, 115 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.
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