Obituary of Michael Ray Kropf

Michael Ray Kropf was born in Walla Walla, Washington on January 6 th , 1951, to Warren and Maxine Leeper-Kropf. On July 14 th , 2022, at the age of 71, he passed away peacefully at his home in Goldendale, after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the youngest of four children, grew up in Walla Walla, and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1969. He joined the Navy right after graduating from high school, earning the National Defense Service Medal, serving on the USS Pivot and at NAS Midway Island where he worked as part of the fire crew. After leaving the Navy, he returned to Walla Walla in 1971, where he lived for 25 years. Mike began his career at the Washington State Penitentiary in 1973 as a Correctional Officer and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Central Washington University in 1979. He held many positions during his 28 years of service, until he retired from the Washington State Department of Corrections as a Parole Hearing Officer on July 1 st , 2001. Mike was active with his family and in the community, coaching his children’s sports teams, and supporting them in all of their activities. He could always be found on the sidelines cheering them on. After leaving Walla Walla, on November 20, 1999, Mike married his wife Melinda Lorenz and spent 23 cherished years loving her. His happy place was being anywhere with her but especially being together, camping at the Oregon Coast. Mike never met a stranger and was always there to help family, a friend or neighbor in need. He loved being on the open road riding his Harley Davidson, or being at home where he loved to cook He is survived by his wife Melinda Lorenz Kropf, his daughter Shelby Grieve and husband Brent, daughter Danielle Mullins and husband Jeff, son Justin Kropf and wife Amy, daughter Kristen Campbell and wife JuJu, daughter Renee Traversie and husband Zack, eight grandchildren, his siblings Karon, Warren, and Sue, mother-in-law Dottie Clark, sister-in-law Milladeen Clark, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Warren and Maxine Kropf. Let me tell you about my friend, from wooden ships and iron men, He’s bold and strong, weathered and grey, an uncommon man even today. Caring and kind, tough as nails, never gives up, and refuses to fail. A young man chose to defend, on a wooden ship with iron men. He answered a call few others did, served with honor and changed his stars. The highest praise I could ever give, is the choice I made to call him Dad. We cherish his time, because in the end, they no longer make wooden ships with iron men. Written for Mike, by: Zack Traversie In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Children’s Hospital, www.seattlechildrens.org/giving, or Commemorative Giving, Seattle Children’s Foundation, PO Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145, 800-635-1432; or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at www.pancan.org,877-272-6226.