James Edward Kroeper, 88, of The Villages, FL, passed away on June 18th, 2015. James was born in Jersey City, N.J. on Friday, May 13, 1927, son of Nicholas and Margery Kroeper (Halliday), and brother of Nicholas and Richard. Jim grew up in Jersey City and attended Our Lady of Victories School and Snyder High School, where he played football. Jim joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and proudly served as Seaman First Class on the U.S.S. Lake Champlain and participated in Operation Magic Carpet where he helped in bringing home troops from Europe at the conclusion of the war.
After the war, Jim received his U.S. Merchant Marine certification and worked for Standard Oil on tankers. In 1959, Jim married Eileen Hanlon, the love of his life. Jim joined the Jersey City Fire Department in 1958 and was a Firefighter for 28 years, serving his hometown bravely with distinction until he retired in 1986. Jim also worked as a soil compaction engineer for Jersey Testing and Testwell Craig Testing Laboratories, both during and after his years as a Firefighter. Jim had a love for traveling, was an avid reader, western movie aficionado and a tortured N.Y. Jets fan, but most of all enjoyed time with his family and friends. Jim is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-six years Eileen, his four loving children, James Kroeper Jr. of Jersey City, N.J., Jean Murphy (Terry) of Jersey City, N.J., Jon Kroeper (Karen Kenmotsu) of Vienna, VA, Chris Kroeper (Michele) of Apex, N.C. and his six grandchildren Julia, Colin, Liam, Jake, Griffin, and Finnegan. Jim had an amazing mind, a quick and playful wit, and a kind and generous heart. We will miss him terribly, but he will always be foremost in our minds and in our hearts, and we are comforted by knowing we can eventually join him in Heaven. A memorial service will be held in New Jersey at a date later this year. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim’s name to St. Anne’s Villa (Sisters of Charity Retirement Home) by mail at P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961 or the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at www.NMCRS.org.