Leo Amos Kropf |
| Posted 2009-07-14 by Sharla |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenubrg, AZ February 4, 2004, p. B9 Leo Kropf, father of Lyle Kropf, passed away Feb. 3, 2004 in Wickenburg. Visitation will be held at Frey Funeral Home, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Second visitation on Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Assembly of God Church, Wickenburg, service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Mexico Mission c/o Berean Mennonite Church of Wickenburg. Arrangements made by Frey Funeral Home. The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ February 18, 2004, p. B7 Leo Amos Kropf, son of Amos and Carrie (Miller) Kropf, was born April 1, 1917, near Shelbyville, Ill. He passed away on Feb. 3, 2004 in Wickenburg, Ariz., age 86 years, 10 months and two days. As a young child, his parents moved from Shelbyville to Kallispel, Mont. for a short time and later moved to Hubbard, Ore. in 1922. He attended the Whiskey Hill School, graduating from eighth grade. He accepted the Lord as his Savior and was baptized in 1929 in the stream near the Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Ore. He, with his parents and family, moved to Halsey, Ore. in 1936. On Aug. 20, 1939, he married Esther Marie Leichty. N.A. Lind performed the marriage ceremony at her parents home near Albany, Ore. He joined the Fairview Mennonite Church where he served in different capacities including church janitor as well as leading music. He conducted Christmas Chorus programs at Fairview for a number of years. He was instrumental in founding the "Gospel Messengers" male quartet and for approximately seven years produced a radio program of quartet singing and inspirational words given by various speakers. For many years he served as a representative for the Mennonite Aid Plan of the Pacific Coast. He began farming after marriage and in the early forties purchased the former N.A. Lind farm on Kennel Road near Albany, Ore. He did custom sheep shearing, operated a grade A dairy for a time, raised chickens and pigs in addition to rye grass and grain farming until he moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in Sept. 1961 because of arthritic health problems. Leo also had vision difficulties and became the first person to wear contact lenses west of the Mississippi River. They were large plastic lenses that covered the visible part of the eye. As his eyesight deteriorated the decision was made to perform cornea transplants in Portland, Ore., and later in Arizona he had his transplanted corneas replaced the second time. After moving to Arizona, he founded Leo A. Kropf, General Contractors, a construction company, building custom homes and small commercial buildings in the Phoenix area. He also founded Kropf Craft, a kitchen cabinet shop specializing in custom kitchen cabinets. He was also a certified Corian countertop fabricator. In January 1989 he moved to Wickenburg, Ariz. where he continued to operate Kropf Craft, assisted by his son Lyle, until retiring. One of his later hobbies was making pens, pencils and flashlights out of scrap Corian and various woods. Leo was a charter member of the Berean Mennonite Church of Wickenburg, Ariz. and remained an active and faithful member until death. Leo is survived by his wife Esther; children James, married to Bette Clemmer of Albany, Ore., Carolyn, married to Gustavo Verdugo of Ahome, Mexico, Lyle, married to Nancy Wenger of Wickenburg, Ariz., Marlene of Wickenburg, Ariz., Kathleen, married to Ken Martin of Danville, Pa. and Christina of Las Vegas, Nev.; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Two uncles also survive, Floyd Miller, Twin Falls, Idaho and Joe Miller, Rupert, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents Amos and Carrie Kropf; sisters Nona Headings and Verna Ropp.The family wishes to express their thanks to all who shared their kindness in food, flowers, gifts and prayers.A special thanks to Lea Way for her help in time of a special need.Funeral services were held at the Mt. Hope Assembly of God on Feb. 6, 2004. Mahlon Hershberger officiated with Amos Kropf and Robert Birky assisting. A special thanks to Mt. Hope Assembly for the use of their facilities.Burial was at Wickenburg Cemetery. See Also: Find A Grave |
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