Norbert Cyril Krass' Obituary
Norbert Cyril Krass, a resident of Ft. Myers, FL since 1991, formerly of Cincinnati, OH, passed away July 27, 2023 at the age of 100. He was born March 29, 1923 in Cincinnati, OH to the late Albert and Lillian (nee Straub) Krass.
Norb grew up in White Oak, a Cincinnati suburb, with his siblings Jim, Hazel, Vit, Boots, and Babe. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 19 and was sent to San Diego for boot camp and then assigned to Camp Pendleton, Regimental Weapons Company, 4th Marine Division. Norb and his Marine brothers were shipped to the Marshall Islands to take Roi-Namur which was the first combat action for the 4th Marine Division, and then they headed to take the island of Saipan. The unimaginable brutal battle of Saipan lasted 25 days, and then the 4th Marine Division proceeded to Tinian. Both islands were successfully secured. Saipan and Tinian were critically strategic in facilitating the end of World War II.
Honorably Discharged following the war, Norb returned to his job with the American Can Company as a claims adjuster in Cincinnati where he met his future wife, Ruth Galley. They married in 1946 and settled in Norwood, OH where they raised two children, Dennis and Pam. He continued working during the day and attended Salmon P. Chase College at night where he received his Bachelor of Laws in 1955 and his Juris Doctor in 1968.
Norb and Ruth lived their lives with gusto. Together they enjoyed fishing, boating, bowling, swimming and remodeling the homes where they lived in Norwood, Kenwood, and Ft. Myers. Norb began golfing in his 30's and made up for lost time winning trophies and thoroughly enjoying the game playing well into his 90's. Another of their passions was dancing. Norb and Ruth were excellent ballroom & square dancers. They had a square dance TV show in Cincinnati where they taught TV viewers how to square dance. In addition to square dancing, they loved to jitterbug (and Party! with family and many, many of their friends!). Everyone cleared the floor to watch them dance, which was something to see! Norb and Ruth fell in love with Florida early in their marriage, driving from Cincinnati to Ft. Myers every summer for vacations, from before the kids were born, until they finally moved there in 1991.
Norb was preceded in death by the love of his life, Ruth in 2014, and is survived by his two children, Dennis Krass (Carolyn) of Mission Viejo, CA and Pam Adams of Ft. Myers, FL; one granddaughter, Kelly McGoldrick (Tim); and two great grandsons, Liam and Kaden.
The Celebration of Norb's Life will be held at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 13060 Palomino Lane, Ft. Myers, FL 33912, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 9:30 am.
Norb will be interred with his wife at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.
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