Josephine Kreutzer

Josephine Kreutzer died peacefully in her ninetieth year on Wednesday, August 14, 2013. She was born Josephine Rose Jean to Leon and Lumina Jean on November 28, 1923 in Fall River, Massachusetts, the sixth of twelve children. At age 20, she joined the Navy to support the Great War effort. She became a pharmacist mate and was first stationed at Brooklyn, New York. At the New London, Connecticut submarine base, her second assignment, she met Andrew Kreutzer. Her last assignment was to Moffet Field blimp base outside of San Francisco.

In 1946, after discharge from the Navy, she moved to Madison, where she married Andrew Kreutzer. Together for 60 years, they raised three children (Andrew, Richard and Debra). She began a long career of public service; beginning with the Madison Police Department, and then around 1959, she joined the Madison public school system as school secretary at a number of schools, including Washington, Van Hise, Crestwood, Glen Stevens, Orchard Ridge, Memorial, Randall, Odana, Franklin and Thoreau.

She was a longstanding member of the Midvale Community Lutheran Church congregation that supported her to the end. In 2011, she was privileged to participate in the Wisconsin Badger Honor Flight delegation to Washington, D.C. Her family remembers her for her vitality, tenacity and freely shared political views.

She is survived by her three children, Andrew (Patricia) of Verona, WI; Richard (Robin) of Oakland, CA; Debra of Henniker, NH; grandchildren Christopher (Christy), Jason (Christa), Lindsey and Adam; and great -grandchildren, Toni, Tielor and Laurel, all of whom will miss her unfailing support and inspiration.

Family services will be held at a later date.

The family extends a special thank you to the staff of Agrace Hospice Care for their compassionate care and support. Memorials can be made to Agrace HospiceCare, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.