Henry “Hank” King Kroft passed away August 21, 2021 in Camarillo, California. He was ninety years old.
Henry was born on January 24, 1931 at his family’s farm in Winamac, Indiana, to Arthur and Jessie
(Chamberlin) Kroft. He completed his early education in the one room schoolhouse down the road from
the farm. Henry graduated from North Judson High School in 1949. He attended Purdue University and
was active in livestock judging and a member of the Sigma Pi fraternity. He graduated in 1953 with a
degree in Animal Husbandry. It was at Purdue that he met his future wife, Marjorie Mae Whitman, of
Greencastle, Indiana. He and Marjorie married on January 9, 1954. Together they raised two daughters,
Karen and Paula, and were married for 38 years. Marjorie preceded him in death on June 19, 1992.
Henry married Karen Martin Vanderhoof in November of 1993 and they were married for 26 years.
Karen preceded him in death on July 19, 2020. After Karen’s passing, Henry moved to California to live
with his daughter Paula and her family.
Henry was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a lieutenant in 1953 and served his country
for over twenty years, ending his military career as a major. He served in Korea during the Korean War
as a weapons specialist. Later he served the country in the Soviet Cold War, specializing in radar with
responsibility to track Soviet missiles and satellites. He worked in the Cheyenne Mountain NORAD
complex while stationed in Colorado Springs and spent a year on a remote assignment in the Aleutian
Islands, among other adventures. He was last stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
Henry earned an MBA degree from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and embarked on a second
career, working for the Georgia State Department of Education in Atlanta, Georgia. During his time
working for the state of Georgia, he pursued a master’s degree in public policy.
Henry was a life-long learner and had a goal of learning something new every day. He was a passionate
photographer and enjoyed reading and keeping up on current events, even up to the last few days of his life.
He was active in the United Methodist Church most of his life. He was proud of his children and
grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them.
Henry is predeceased by his parents, his sister Susan Kroft Bryhn, and his wives, Marjorie and Karen. He
is survived by his daughters, Karen K. Rogan and husband Owen of Edenton, North Carolina, and Paula Hoholick and husband Joseph of Agoura Hills, California and six grandchildren, Patrick Rogan, Kathleen
Rogan, Leah Hoholick, Maya Hoholick, Peter Hoholick, and Jack Hoholick as well as nieces and nephews.
Henry will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Services for Henry will be held on September 11, 2021 at 10:30 am, Whitaker Funeral Home, Cloverdale,
Indiana. Visitation will be held from 9:30 until service time. Burial will follow at the Cloverdale
Cemetery. Condolences may be made at www.WhitakerFuneralHome.net.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Henry King Kroft, please visit our floral store.