Karl "Rick" Frederick Krehbiel's Obituary
Karl “Rick” Frederick Krehbiel was born February 24, 1944, in Batavia, New York, and passed peacefully at his home in Strongsville, Ohio, on October 6, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gladys Opal (Weese) and Carl Fredrick Krehbiel. Rick is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Anne (Murrie) Krehbiel, his children Katherine “Riki” Erika Krehbiel, Rachel “Rae-Rae” Elizabeth Krehbiel, and Carl “Casey” Edward Krehbiel, as well as his sister Carole Clark (Krehbiel) and brother James “Pete” Peter Krehbiel.
Rick attended Hinsdale High School, in Illinois, where running became his passion. He graduated in 1962 and, thereafter, began his studies at the University of Illinois, at Champaign-Urbana where he was a member of the track team. U of I, a land-grant school, required two years of ROTC service. He continued in the program for the remainder of his university years where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation. He met Anne Catherine Murrie in his junior year and they married in August of 1966.
The newlyweds moved to Aberdeen, MD, then to Fort Lee, VA, and on to Fort Irwin, CA. His next stop was Vietnam where he served as a First Lieutenant Company Commander in the United States Army during the Tet Offensive in January 1968. Upon his honorable discharge from the service, Rick rejoined civilian life and he and Anne began a new chapter in Cleveland, Ohio.
In the summer of 1982, with three young children at home, Rick took on the challenge of establishing Krehbiel And Associates, Inc, a manufacturers’ representatives’ agency providing packaging solutions and disposable products primarily to the foodservice industry. As the company grew, those working with the company became an extension of family.
Like running, Rick was passionate about his line of work and those in it. He found joy in sending birthday cards to business associates, yearly. He also found purpose through his volunteer work at the VA Hospital, giving comfort to wounded warriors who served our Country. As a Rhetoric major, composition was second nature and Rick authored two books addressing life, love, and the human condition.
Please join us in honoring his memory during visitation on Monday, October 14, 2024, from 3:00PM-6:00PM, at Jardine Funeral Home, 15822 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH 44136, with a memorial service to commence at 6:00PM. A Celebration of Life will follow at 7:00PM at Trivs Restaurant and Lounge, 17100 Royalton Road, Suite 11, Strongsville, OH 44136, for appetizers and drinks. Burial will occur on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 2:45PM at Ohio Western Reserve National Military Cemetery at 10175 Rawiga Road, Seville, OH 44273. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities: Tunnel to Towers Foundation https://t2t.org/, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/.
“If you declare the truth publicly, you will live it, and you will pass it on.” – Karl F. Krehbiel
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