Alfred “Al” William Kremler passed away peacefully May 13, 2019 at the age of 92.
Born October 21, 1926 at home in Woodhaven, Queens, N.Y., he started his career as a laborer on the Manhattan Project, the top-secret government mission responsible for developing the atomic bomb. World War II had commenced, and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and became a pharmacist’s mate. One of the first crew members aboard the USS Dutchess, a Windsor-class attack transport ship that transported and cared for military casualties throughout the Pacific. The Dutchess received a battle star for courageous service during wartime. Al was an avid bicyclist, competing as a member of the Long Island Wheelman’s Association who won many trophies and NYS Bicycle Champion several times. After the war, Al took the test to become a New York City police officer and scored the fifth highest out of 16,273 other men. He became a police officer, but walking the beat didn’t last long because he was asked to join the New York Police Association’s bicycle team. He continued to win many competitions but his career ended when he was injured in a pile up during a U.S. Olympic Team qualifying race in California. Retiring from the police department as a sergeant in 1967, he went into the car business, eventually promoting himself from sales to management.
When Al retired, he moved from New York to Amelia Island, Fla. to be close to his son, Bill, and daughter-in-law, JoAnn. He loved the mountains and the ocean, traveling from one coast to another. He was never without a joke to share, leaving those around him chuckling.
He was predeceased by his wife, Vilma.
He leaves behind his children, Valerie, William, and Cheryl; grandchildren, Kevin, Brian, Caitlin, Christian, Alison, Lisa, Bree, James, and Ryan; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Simply an amazing man, he will be missed by all who knew him.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery