John Lewis Krmpotich |
| Posted 2009-10-14 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona May 8, 1997 John Krmpotich, 70, dies; Pima employee since '76 Longtime Pima County employee John L. Krmpotich died Tuesday of complications after surgery. He was 70. Since 1985, Krmpotich has been deputy director of the county's Wastewater Management Department. ''He was a loyal county employee,'' said County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. Krmpotich was first hired by the county in 1976 as a Sanitation Department employee. His appointment prompted a complaint by at least one board member that it was politically orchestrated by then-Supervisors Chairman E.S. ''Bud'' Walker. Krmpotich was born on April 16, 1927, in Clarkdale, about 110 miles north of Phoenix. He graduated from high school there in 1945. He served in the Army from 1945 to 1948. In 1951, Krmpotich graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in business and public administration. Two years later, he opened the Copper Coffee Shop in Ajo. He married Bridget Genovese in October 1959 and the couple operated the restaurant until they moved to Tucson in 1976. Also while living in Ajo, Krmpotich served as a member, and at times chairman, of the county Planning and Zoning Commission. Krmpotich was a member of the Knights of Columbus and an avid fan of the UA football and basketball teams, his wife said. Last August, Krmpotich and his wife spent four weeks in Croatia visiting two of his aunts, Ankica Uvalic and Lujia Grdan. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a brother, Michael Krmpotich; a sister, Martha Slaven; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Mary Krmpotich, and a brother, Dr. George Krmpotich of Huntington Beach, Calif. Visitation is tomorrow from 2 to 7 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 1375 S. Camino Seco. Interment will be at Holy Hope Cemetery, 3555 N. Oracle Road, after a 10 a.m. Mass at the church Saturday. The family asks that donations be made to The Tucson Residence Foundation, which can be reached at 790-9144. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?