Visitation Information

James R. Krol, "Jim"

Passed away on August 17, 2024

James R. Krol, age 67.  Late of Cedar Lake, Indiana formerly of St. John, Indiana.  Passed away August 17, 2024.  Beloved husband of Jennifer (nee Branco) for 44 years.  Loving and proud father of Major Nick Krol, USMC and Sara (Kyle) Doyon.  Cherished grandfather of Grace (Sam) Hager, Hailey Doyon, Paul James, and Olivia.  Immensely loved little brother of Ron (Sandy) Krol, Suzanne (Danny) Boller, Nancy (Frank) Wright, and Mary Krol.  Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.  Jim was an account executive for Precision Control Systems for 31 years and might have gone for another 31, if they would let him.

James was preceded in death by siblings Theodore and Andrea, and father-in-law Arthur.  He will also be welcomed into the afterlife by his mom Virginia and father Theodore, whose World War II escape, evasion, and resistance path Jim recently followed through France, over 80 years later.

Before we begin, Jim was such a humble man that we know he would not approve of the following praise.  That said, he recently lost his final say in the matter.

Jim was a craftsman at heart who appreciated quality.  This could have been a good set of blueprints, the structure of a hit song, the way a good electrician lines up the screw heads the same way on every plate… In another life he may have been an engineer, although he might rise from the grave to strangle the authors for making that comparison now.  He loved home renovation projects—the type of guy who might occasionally wait for Jenny to travel to Florida in order to, say, completely overhaul the dining room against her will.  Jim was so creative and geometrically gifted.  If we were a better family, we would have framed his sketches and doodles from projects or dreams and hung them in the Louvre.

Jim was generous, a trait learned from his father and refined through his father-in-law.  He was so giving of his time, love, money, passions, and wisdom.  Dozens of people looked for his car at the arrival lane of O’Hare or Midway and found him always on time, always happy to see you.  The same people were dropped at departures days later, or vice versa.  Always on time, never with complaint.  Dad was an incredibly good teacher and was fascinated by math and science.  The kids learned early you wanted dad to grade your math homework, mom could take the rest.  They also adapted his love for classic rock early on.  Jim’s nature of generosity lent him a quiet confidence in all aspects of life.  You can’t go wrong doing the right thing (thanks, Art).

While perfect in our eyes, Jim was not without his faults.  Like many of us, his biggest mistakes were made in youth, such as shooting a .22 caliber hole through the living room TV or burning down Ted’s van in a gas station parking lot.  Neither Nick nor Sara have owned cars with a carburetor, but both were taught from an early age not to pour gasoline on one as a jump start.

Jim golfed his way through Ireland with great friends.  He flew on the Chicago Blackhawks jet.  He prayed his way through Rome (Jenny did at least and, as always, he was by her side).  Jim Krol holds the extended family (possibly world) land speed record from Northwest Indiana to the family lake house in Traverse City, Michigan.  In death, Jim has now cemented his lifetime undefeated position against his son, son-in-law, and older brother in both nine- and 18-hole rounds (sans handicap).  A poor sportsmanship complaint will be lodged against him by the previously mentioned at all courses on record for running out the clock.

With all of that said, Jim’s proudest and most joyous accomplishment was watching his family continue to flourish after raising two kids and enjoying a 44-year marriage.  Jim was a perfect teammate for his wife who loved him deeply.  He chose her so deliberately and humbly that she finally had to propose to him, and they have followed their vows as seriously and faithfully as any couple in history.  One final accomplishment: Jim will be entered into the Guiness Book of World Records (posthumously) for being absolutely, incessantly, adored by his mother-in-law Marilyn (Toots) over the course of more than 44 years.

Jim was a big ball of love.  He loved his golf buddies, he loved the school superintendents and facility managers he worked for, he loved his co-workers at Precision who he worked with, he loved the golf course employees he interacted with when he went to chip, putt, play, eat, etc.  Jim had a boyish charm that always seemed to lead to a witty remark or joke that would catch you off guard.  Most of all Jim loved his family.  He was our rock.  Certainly predisposed to occasionally growing moss, but boy, could you count on him for anything.  His loss leaves a gaping hole in our family and our friend group which will take a long time to heal.  James Raymond Krol was given what he began with, earned the rest, and in the ultimate credit to him, found it all to be more than enough.

Visitation Monday, August 26, 2024 from 3:00 – 8:00 pm with a Prayer Service at 5:30 pm at the Elmwood Funeral Chapel.  Funeral Services will begin on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 10:30 am with prayers at the Elmwood Funeral Chapel 11300 W. 97th Ln. (1/2 block west of US 41/Wicker Ave. at 97th LN.) to St. John the Evangelist Church – Day Chapel (Corner of 93rd and 41).  Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 am.  Interment St. John Church Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jim's memory to the Evans Scholars Foundation http://wgaesf.org or the Semper Fi Fund http://thefund.org.  For more information call 219-365-3474 or www.elmwoodchapel.com