Randy Jerome Kreutzer

Randy Jerome Kreutzer of West Plains, MO passed away Saturday February 25, 2012. He was born in Wichita, KS on July 27, 1949. Growing up he enjoyed playing baseball and continued this passion during high school as a catcher. He attended Sacred Heart High School graduating in 1967. He then attended Kansas Technical Institute and earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1969. Upon graduation he was married and had two children, Sheri Lee and Jerri Lynn, while working in Wichita, KS and later in Winfield, KS. In 1974 he moved to southern California where he lived for over 10 years working for several private aircraft companies, including Hughes Aircraft and TigerAir. Divorced in 1977, he continued to work in the aircraft industry and lived close to his two daughters. He enjoyed flying and took flying lessons during these years. In 1983, he moved to New Jersey where he was married again and expanded his family with 2 additional daughters, Keri Helen and Rebecca Jean. Shortly after moving, he opened his own company, Maintenance Service Plus, which he operated for over 15 years in Teterboro, NJ. Randy helped to design a prototype jet trainer, the SkyFox, while working at Hughes Aircraft and between 1999 and 2005 he served as the chief of maintenance and flight engineer for the CEO of America On-Line. Randy spent most of his time doing what he loved best: working on airplanes. After a career spanning 44 years in the aircraft industry, he finally retired from Geico Skytypers in Farmingdale, NY in 2011 to relocate to West Plain, MO where he would be near his mother and brother. He was an avid traveler, especially while working for AOL. He traveled to China, Singapore, Thailand, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam, the Azors, Mexico, and most of eastern and western Europe, and had visited every state in the United States. When was not working he enjoyed anything related to flying - air shows, aviation programs on the History Channel, and military movies (especially James Bond and John Wayne films). He was also an active member in many aeronautical associations. Randy is survived by his mother, Wilda Kreutzer of Alton, MO; four daughters and their husbands: Sheri and Josh Barron of Springfield, MO; Jerri Lynn and Joe Adame of Oxnard, CA; Keri Gormley of Scotch Plains, NJ and Rebecca Kreutzer of Montclair, NJ; one brother, Robert Kreutzer of Alton, MO; one sister and brother-in-law, Kim and Al Fortunato of Charlotte, NC. He is further survived by three grandchildren, Blake Adame of Oxnard, CA, Desiree Bigger of Springfield, MO and Maxwell Gormley of Scotch Plains, NJ and one great grandchild, Jayce Adame of Oxnard, CA; one niece, Dana Fortunato of Scranton, PA and one nephew, Michael Fortunato of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by Marie Chang, a very dear and beloved friend of over 15 years who resides in Singapore. He is further survived by other relatives and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred J. Kreutzer and his grandparents Herman and Cecilia Hobelman and Rudolph and Anna Kreutzer. The family will receive friends at Sacred Heart Church on Friday, March 2 from 5 pm to 6 pm with a rosary at 6:00 P.M. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday March 3, at Sacred Heart Church, 1223 Madison Street, Fredonia, KS. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Fredonia City Cemetery. A dinner will be served following the services on Saturday at the Sacred Heart Hall next to the church. A memorial has been established in Randy's name with the American Diabetes Association and donations can be left with Timmons Funeral Home. Words of condolence for the family may be left at www.timmonsfuneralhome.com Timmons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 168, Fredonia, KS, 66736, is in charge of the arrangements.