Bernard Kropp

December 22, 1934 - July 28, 2011

Bernard J. Kropp Jr. died Thursday, July 28, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis. Bernard was born in Salem, Ore., to parents Bernard Sr. and Izetta (Walker) Kropp. He was the sixth of seven children. Bernard grew up in Salem, later attending Mt. Angel Seminary Preparatory Division, and eventually graduating from the seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in 1951. He was drafted into the military in 1959, and served in Puerto Rico. He decided to pursue teaching, and went on to receive Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in education in the early sixties. He began his public school teaching career in Salem, and moved to Corvallis in 1968 to take a new position. Bernard had a successful thirty years teaching sixth graders, and enjoyed coaching middle school youth of all ages in various sports activities. Upon retirement, he spent the next few years traveling with his wife, Donna. They had wonderful trips to Europe, Japan, Canada, and the eastern part of the U.S. Bernard always enjoyed hiking the Oregon Cascades, visiting the coast, gardening, reading, westerns, and though he never studied music formally, was talented in singing, played a little guitar, and loved to listen to all genres. Bernard is survived by his wife of fifty years, Donna, of Corvallis; his son, Daniel, of Portland; his daughter, Susan, of Corvallis; and his granddaughter, Angela Carvallo, of Portland. Additional survivors are his brother, Brian, of Salem; and his sister, Gretchen Miller, of Huntsville, Texas. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jacqueline Carvallo, and her infant, Vanessa. A memorial mass will be said on Monday, August 8th, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Corvallis. A reception will follow. The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Corvallis community medical personnel for the compassionate care they provided. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bernard’s name to Stone Soup, a free-meal assistance program in Corvallis (please visit http://www.claritycorvallis.com/stonesoup/).