MEDINA - Allan J. Kropf, 91, of Medina died March 20 at Medina Memorial Hospital, under Hospice care, after undergoing surgery for a broken hip.
Allan was born Sept. 10, 1933 in Niagara Falls, a son of the late Howard and Ethel (Hoolihan) Kropf.
He graduated in 1951 from Barker High School and joined the Naval Air Reserve at Niagara Falls Air Base. He enlisted in the Army on April 13, 1953, serving four years. While on leave in New Orleans, he met Carolyn Peters, whom he married, settled with on Johnson Creek Road and raised five children.
Al had a favorite saying. “You only go down this road once, and you have to hit both sides on the way, as you never get another chance.” And hit both sides he did.
A lifelong career in the automotive industry began with an auto repair shop in Hartland, a Ziebart rustproofing franchise serving Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, ownership of a Ford dealership in Medina, a muffler shop and Mac Tools franchise.
His life took on a new interest when he met a private pilot in Florida, who took him on a ride in his plane. Al eventually bought his own airplane and learned to fly, earning a commercial pilot’s license.
He also had an interest in boats and had owned three cabin cruisers, in which he and his family sailed the waters of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Rideau Canal.
After retirement, he became a part-time ad representative for the Daily News in Batavia.
In 1987, he married the former Virginia Boyle of Millville and they settled in Basom, until moving to Medina in 2018. During their years together, they flew all over the United States in their airplane, which Allan insisted Virginia learn to fly. Together they have been to all 50 states, China and on numerous cruises.
Actively involved in his communities, he was a member of the Moose Lodge, Medina Masonic Lodge (now Towpath Lodge) and Medina Presbyterian Church, a former commander of the Civil Air Patrol’s Lockport squadron, a councilman in the towns of Hartland and Alabama and member of the town of Alabama Planning Board during development of the STAMP Project.
Surviving are his wife of 37 years, Virginia “Ginny” Kropf; five children, Allan (Mi Cha) Kropf of Chesapeake, Va.; David (Melissa) Kropf of Bergen; Michael (Christine) Kropf of Albion; Stephen (Jodie) Kropf of Newfane; and Karen Kropf (Stephanie Irwin) of Albion; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Also, four stepchildren, Randy (Cindy) Boyle of Oakfield; Terry Boyle of Medina; Timothy (Penny Stockwell) Boyle of Clarendon and Robin Boyle of North Carolina; numerous step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to call on Monday, May 12, 2025 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home, 11 Maple Avenue in Oakfield. A Masonic Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Al's memorial service will take place Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be in Western New York National Cemetery in Pembroke. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Orleans County, the Medina Senior Center, or the First Presbyterian Church of Medina.
Please leave a condolence, share a story, or light a candle at www.burdettandsanford.com.