Robert Christopher Kruty

Robert Christopher Kruty, Sr., age 90, passed away at Sunrise Assisted Living in Cuyahoga Falls on

Tuesday, November 26, 2019. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 12, 1929, the eldest of the

three surviving children of John and Elsie (Chunat) Kruty, and raised on Cleveland’s west side. He

attended James Ford Rhodes High School and then served in the United States Army at Fort Lewis near

Seattle, Washington. After his return to civilian life, Bob owned and operated the City Service gas station

located at E. 11th and Parkview in Cleveland. He also worked as an owner/operator truck driver. He and

the former Marion Vjecha married on June 30, 1951.

Bob was a decorated officer with the Cleveland Police Department, serving from 1957 -1984

mainly with the third district. In 1965, the city awarded him the Medal of Valor for service above and

beyond the call of duty when he and his long-time partner, Bob Horner, saved a family from a burning

building before fire services could arrive. During his career, Bob and his partner consistently made the

highest number of felony arrests. He achieved the rank of detective in 1972 and worked in the fraud unit

until his retirement.

Bob purchased Tamsin Park Campground in 1971 and turned it into a family enterprise until they

sold the property in 1986. The Kruty children worked together with their parents on all aspects of

Tamsin Park operations, and even today they share of love of hiking, wildlife, the great outdoors, and

campfires cuisine such as camper pies and Hungarian speck.

Bob was a very early proponent of #vanlife. He took his family on a cross-country vacation in a

school bus that he personally converted into a motor home back in 1961, making stops at various

national parks as well as Disneyland in California.

Bob continued to serve the public after his retirement from the Cleveland Police Department

when he accepted the office of Chief of Police for the village of Peninsula, Ohio where he served without

compensation from 1986-1998.

Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly, and great granddaughters Aly and Emma.

He is survived by Marion, his beloved wife of 68 years; sons Bob Kruty, Jr. (Sue) and John Kruty (Julie

Lund); daughters Denise Leipold (Ken) and Cindy Kruty (Bob Pruitt); grandchildren Mindy Crothers,

Melissa Moore, Megan Johnson, Rocky Kruty, Joey Kruty, Jennifer Hall, Dan Leipold, David Riede, Matt

Riede, Gabrielle Kruty, Jack Kruty; great grandchildren CJ, Willy, Nicholas, Ellie, James, Austin, Ava,

Allie, Emily, Tilly, Jack, Cooper, Blake and Luke; sisters Carol Jereb and Rose Dynia.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1905 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 44223, followed by a Mass of

Christian Burial at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Police

Officer’s Training Fund, c/o Village of Peninsula Police Department, 1582 Main St., Peninsula, OH 44264.

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