Robert (Bob) was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 13,1936. He was the second child born to Edward and Gertrude Krajewski (nee Daniels). He attended grade school at Gethsemane Lutheran School and graduated from Detroit Lutheran High School. Bob pursued his love of teaching and received a BS in Education from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois.
Bob’s career started as principal and teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Perham, Minnesota. He subsequently served as principal and teacher at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and School in Detroit, Michigan where he was also the organist and choir director. In 1966, Bob and his young family moved to Elk Grove Village, Illinois where he spent one year teaching English at Luther High School North in Chicago. He also became the church organist and choir director at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Elk Grove Village, serving in that role for many years.
In 1967 Bob began a new career in the paperboard industry working in industrial engineering, software development, and senior systems analyst roles. He was employed by Container Corporation of America in Carol Stream, Illinois, for over 20 years. He then ventured out West to Lake Oswego, Oregon to continue his career expansion, joining the James River Corporation. In 1994 he relocated to Redmond, Washington, continuing his time with the newly formed Fort James Corporation. After retirement, Bob’s love of the West Coast and proximity to his family kept him in the Seattle area permanently.
Bob had a wide variety of interests, most notably boating, classical music, history, and old movies. As a young man, he built a Chris-Craft Runabout boat with an outboard motor in his parents’ basement, then had to maneuver to get the boat out! Later he bought an outboard bowrider and spent several summers camping and water-skiing with his family. In his position as organist and choir director he wrote and arranged music for the choir and, at Holy Spirit, he organized and directed small groups of teenage instrumentalists. In his later years, he was an avid concert-goer taking in many performances in Portland and Seattle. Bob was also a voracious reader, sharing his knowledge with all that he knew through notes attached to copies of articles he found interesting. His family will miss his sense of humor and the “care” packages filled with snacks, toys and Tee shirts with a message.
Bob is survived by his children, Mary Mitchell (Jeff) of Granville, Ohio, Joel Krajewski (Tim) of Berkeley, California, and Becky Van Riper (AJ) of Sacramento, California. He is also survived by his siblings, Don Krajewski of San Jose, California, Alice Krajewski of Walnut Creek, California and his niece Jennifer Regan (Ron) and nephew Peter Krajewski.
Bob (fondly known as GP Bob) leaves five grandchildren: Ryan Mitchell, Matt Mitchell, Shelby Mitchell, Peyton Van Riper, and Delaney Van Riper. He was predeceased by his parents Edward and Gertrude and his siblings Roy Krajewski and Janice Krajewski.
Bob’s family will host a memorial service at a future date in California with dissemination of his ashes to be determined at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of Bob’s favorite organizations:
The Seattle Symphony, Planned Parenthood, your local library, your local SPCA or wildlife fund.
Please share fond memories, a story, a photograph and expressions of sympathy for Robert Charles Krajewski by visiting www.CedarLawns-Washington.com
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