Obit: Krukowski, John Lee (1966 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: French, Graham, Hoff, Krukowski, Nelson, Tunison, Uchytil,

----Source: The Ladysmith News (Ladysmith, WI) 9/03/2018

Krukowski, John Lee (7 DEC 1966 - 31 AUG 2018)

On Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, John Lee Krukowski, 51, was called from his earthly home to take his place among the sky warriors. John lay down his sword after a 5-½ year long battle with an evil curse called brain cancer.

John was born to Frank and Betty (Tunison) Krukowski on Dec. 7, 1966. He grew up in Chetek with two older and one younger sister and had an identical twin brother whom passed away when they were children. John and his siblings enjoyed a carefree childhood of getting into mischief, often pulling pranks on the neighbors for their own amusement. He suffered several concussions, cuts, and contusions from his escapades and his mom reported that it was with regularity that a neighborhood kid would run into her house blurting, “Come quick! Johnny’s hurt real bad!”
John graduated from the Chetek High School in 1985, and later graduated from CVTC with an associate’s degree in police science and from Mount Senario College with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He was accepted into law school at the University of Tulsa, but postponed his attendance in order to marry the love of his life.

He and Trista Jane Hoff were united in marriage on May 23, 1992 in Ladysmith. Their son Logan Lee Krukowski was born to them on Jan. 31, 1993. Trista and Logan were the light in John’s life, and he in theirs. He worked hard to provide for his family, trading the chance at a law degree for working at several jobs in the Chetek, Rice Lake and Ladysmith areas until he found his calling at Cityforest paper mill in Ladysmith.

He, Trista, and Logan called themselves “The Three Musketeers” as they did most things as a family, including dining out for Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, as well as reading the entire Harry Potter series together. The family enjoyed traveling and it was their last family vacation to Hawaii where John fulfilled one of his greatest dreams to jump out of an airplane and free fall above the clouds. John cherished the time that he spent with his friends, Scott Thomas, and Mike Dennis, adventuring together often in the younger years and at least annually in their later years.

John is survived by his wife, Trista; his son, Logan (Shann) of Eau Claire; his sisters, Debra Krukowski and Betsy French, both of Chetek, and Kris (Jodi) Krukowski of Neillsville; his parents-in-law, Rick and Colleen Hoff of Ladysmith; his sister-in-law, Nisse (Brett) Graham of Bloomer; his nieces, Jessie (Brad) Uchytil, Christy (Jacob) Nelson and Amelia Graham; his nephews, James (Mikale) French and Kye Graham; his great-nieces, Sylvana Uchytil and Olivia Nelson; great-nephews, Manly and Emmett Nelson as well as many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jimmy and brother-in-law, Monte French.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the L.E. Phillips Auditorium at the Chippewa Valley Museum in Carson Park, in Eau Claire, on Saturday, Sept. 15, with family receiving guests from 1-2 p.m., service at 2 p.m. and refreshments to follow.

John’s family would like to thank Dr. Dean Delmastro of Marshfield Clinic for the wonderful care that he provided to John over the years, the wonderful caregivers at Dove Healthcare in Osseo, and the amazing team at St. Joseph’s Hospice for their care and support.

For further details, search for John’s Celebration of Life on Facebook.

Chippewa Valley Cremation Services in Altoona is serving the family.

To express condolences online please visit www.chippewavalleycremation.com.