Charles "Chuck" Kroon

Charles “Chuck” Kroon, father, husband, partner, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025.

Chuck was born to William James and Wilma Augusta (Noerenburg) Kroon in Seward, NE on March 4, 1946. He studied electrical engineering at University of Nebraska. After college he moved to Rochester, NY, worked at Kodak, and married Cathrine “Cathi” Wyler on June 24, 1972. Together they built a life in Wallingford, CT where they raised their two children, Jimmy and Cory. They moved to New Mexico in 2010, fulfilling a retirement dream they'd been planning for over 15 years.

Chuck worked as an electrical engineer at Dictaphone (Pitney Bowes) and later Canberra Industries. Beyond his career, he had a giving heart and a lifelong commitment to volunteer work. He worked with the American Field Service in CT, hosting many foreign exchange students, and continued this journey in the southwest with his wife, Cathi, and later with his partner, Linda, in Questa, NM. He volunteered for many local Questa organizations with both Cathi and Linda. He started volunteering for the Latir Fire Department, Habitat for Humanity, and Cerro Vista Farms, where he met Linda, and expanded his volunteer work at the local food pantry and delivering the Questa newspaper.

Chuck loved animals, particularly cats. He loved all things travel, travelling frequently with his family while in CT and continuing in NM. He visited dozens of countries in his lifetime and especially in the last five years with Linda. He loved camping, which was a family past-time in CT. He also loved home renovation and woodworking and was often found in his CT and NM workshops. He was an avid college football fan and loved watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers as it reminded him of his rugby days in Rochester.

Chuck is predeceased by his wife, Cathi Kroon and his older brother Keith Kroon of Rochester, NY. He is survived by his son Jimmy Kroon (Lori Brown), his daughter, Cory Walka (Jason Walka), his partner Linda Betz and younger brother David Kroon (Sharon Watson-Kroon). He loved his grandson Theodore ”Teddy” Walka who loved sitting in his grandpa's lap and reading bedtime stories during visits.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Chuck's honor to the following organizations:

Latir Volunteer Fire Department of Questa, NM

Stray Hearts Animal Shelter of Taos, NM

Habitat for Humanity of Taos, NM

The University of Nebraska Foundation