Bennie Krupa

Bennie Krupa, CWO4 USN Retired, of Bay City, MI (former lifetime resident of Pinconning, MI), passed away on December 3, 2010 at Bay Regional Medical Center having lived a long and very full life. He was born in Arenac County, MI on January 26, 1920 on the family farm and was the first son of Stanley and Katherine (Szostak) Krupa. Bennie enlisted in the US Navy in February, 1939 at the age of 19. He retired on September 1, 1965 after 27 years of honorable and distinguished service to the United States of America. He served aboard submarines in the Pacific Theater and was in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked on December 7, 1941. His submarine was bombed and he fought along side the Philippine people in defense of the Philippine Islands. They fought valiantly, but the islands fell and he was taken Prisoner of War by the Japanese. Bennie was among the survivors of the Bataan Death March in April, 1942. After 42 months in various prison camps in Taiwan, he was finally released after the Japanese surrender following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. The camp was 25 miles from Nagasaki and he felt the blast but never imagined what it could be. He returned to the United States and continued his Naval career finishing in Great Lakes, IL with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4. For his service, Bennie was awarded two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts as the result of wounds received in action with enemy forces on the islands of Corregidor, Bataan and Luzon in the Philippines. He also was awarded the following medals: Prisoner of War, Philippine Liberation Defense, Meritorious Service Award, WWII Medal, National Defense, American Defense and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medals. Bennie was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church and a former member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Pinconning. He was a member of the VFW Pinconning Post #3753 and was a Police Officer and City Councilman of Pinconning. Bennie worked as a salesman and also was a service rep for GMAC. He was an avid master gardener, hunter and inventor and enjoyed music, reading, watching birds and dancing with his wife. Bennie volunteered at the Pinconning Clothing Closet and was a world class storyteller. On May 18, 1946 he married Una Marie Coupie, of Bay City, MI, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bay City. He is survived by Una, his wife of 65 years; daughters Sharon and (Rev. Stephen) Schilke, Bay City, MI; Michelle and (Dr. Thomas) Charbeneau, Paris, TX, and Debra and (Thomas) Kryzanowicz, Sanford, MI; grandchildren Mark and (Raechel) Schilke, Dawn and (Mat) Shea, Jeff and (Sakinah) Charbeneau, Andrea Charbeneau, Brianne Charbeneau, Bryan Kryzanowicz, Kelly Kryzanowicz, and Gabriel and (Angela) Krupa; and great grandchildren Jared, Allison, Tyler and Elizabeth Shea and Jacob and Joseph Schilke. He is also survived by one brother Walter Krupa, and sisters Helen Krupa, Theresa Miller, Mary-Ann Dellaria, and Trudy Walther. Bennie was preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Katherine Krupa, two sons Dennis J. Krupa and Daniel J. Krupa; two brothers John Krupa and Ed Krupa, and sister Dorothy Tobias. The Funeral Liturgy & Rite of Committal will take place at 1:00pm on Monday December 6, 2010 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Robert S. Gohm followed by Military Honors conducted by the U.S. Navy and the Bay County Veterans Council. Private inurnment will be in Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Friends may call at the Gephart Funeral Home on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 & 6:00 to 9:00pm, with the Vigil for the Deceased beginning at 7:30pm. Mr. Krupa will lie instate at the church on Monday from 12:00pm until time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Michigan Parkinson's Foundation or the VFW.