Carl Leo Kroll

Carl Leo Kroll passed away peacefully on Monday, March 16, 2015. He was born September 16, 1921 to Emanuel and Rose Kroll in Clarence, New York. He was the 7th of 9 children. He graduated from Neumann Catholic High School Cum Laude in 1939.

Carl served 4 years in the Army Air Corp during World War 2. He was trained in aerial navigation and on completion of flight crew training was assigned to the 91st Bomb Group at Bassingbourn, England. On the completion of 30 missions over Europe as a B17 navigator, he was awarded the Distinguish Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the European Theater Operations Campaign Medal, the American Defense Medal and the Victory Medal. He then served an additional 2 years as a navigation instructor at George, Williams Mather and Minter Fields. After being discharged from active duty, Carl chose to stay in the Air Force Reserve. In 1981, he retired as a Lt. Col.

While at Minter Field in late 1945, he met Venita Cassidy, who would be the love of his life for the next 58 years. And, she continued to be the love of his life even after her passing.

He worked as an accountant for several local firms and closed out his career working 25 years as a Senior Auditor Appraiser for the Kern County Assessor’s Office.

Carl is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Hall (Gary) and Rick Kroll (Dottie), granddaughter, Jennifer Abraham (Nigel), grandsons Ricky Kroll (Lori) and Chris Kroll, and numerous great and great great grandchildren. He has one surviving sister, Agnes Baxter, and many nieces and nephews in New York and Florida.

Carl was first a family man who loved his wife and his children beyond measure. He was quiet until you got to know him but then you knew you were in the presence of a very gentle, kind soul, a gentleman, a man of strong spiritual beliefs and intelligence, and if you were lucky, you got to know his humor. He was a true American hero. We love you and you will be in our hearts forever.

Grave side services will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Mortuary on March 26th at 10:00 A.M.

His family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Steven Chen and his staff, Hoffman Hospice and Laura Frisen, RN and Francis at Guardian Home Care for the special care they provided.