Larry Kripke

Larry Kripke, 80, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, beside his beloved wife. His family is overwhelmed with sadness, but this story isn’t about his death, it’s about his life. And Larry was a stone-cold world champion at life. He loved with all his heart. He epitomized integrity, kindness, and caring. His was the definition of a life well lived, and it should be celebrated.
He was born on October 20, 1943, to Sherwin and Naomi Kripke, alongside his two brothers Harley and Bobby. They are all lifelong Toledo natives. After graduating from the University of Michigan Business School in 1965, he returned to Toledo to enter the family business – scrap metal recycling. First at Sherwin Metals, then Kripke-Tuschman Industries, then OmniSource Corporation. Until finally in 1993, Larry went into business for himself, forming Kripke Enterprises with his wife Joanie, and eventually joined by his favorite child Matt. (Just kidding. His youngest child Eric is writing this, and he’s the obvious favorite. Though daughter Dana begs to differ, as Larry’s only girl).
Larry built the company with loyalty, love and genuine concern for his employees, who all remember his wise advice. “Larry-isms” like “treat other people the way you want to be treated” and “don’t think of a problem as a problem, think of it as an opportunity.” The company continues to thrive, run by third-favorite child Matt, nephew Chad Kripke, and many more.
But work was only a part of Larry’s life. As he always said “family is everything.” And man, did he live that motto. He never missed his children’s games, plays, milestones. He closely followed every development in his 8 grandchildren’s lives. As a proud Jewish man and former board chair of the Toledo Jewish Federation, he brought all of his grandchildren to Israel as they reached Bar Mitzvah age, a labor of love that took over a decade, a tradition started by his own father. An avid, some would say obsessed, others would say fanatical golfer, he played as a member of Glengary Country Club, then Stone Oak where he sunk two holes in one. That’s right –two – eat your hearts out, suckers. As a lifelong Michigan supporter, some would say crazed, others would say cultish, he was a football season ticket holder for over 50 years, and witnessed the recent national championship. He ruthlessly brain-washed his children and grandchildren to be Wolverines as well, and so far, more than half of them attended Michigan. The others, we don’t speak about.
As much as he loved his kids, grandkids, parents, brothers, cousins and friends, he only had one true love. His wife of almost 60 years, Joanie. They met at University of Michigan. He was 19, she was 17, and let’s all be grateful that he wasn’t arrested and forced to keep a thousand feet from schools. They stuck together through thick and thin, raised a family together, instilled in their children Midwestern values of hard work, dependability, loyalty and of course, family above all.
Larry is survived by Joanie (Levy), children Matt (Jill) Kripke, Dana Kripke (Doug) Friedman, Eric (Deanna) Kripke, brothers Harley (Stacey) Kripke, Bobby (Sharon) Kripke, and 8 grandchildren Sari Kripke, Tyler Friedman, Asher Kripke, Sammy Friedman, Chase Kripke, Michael Friedman, Jack Kripke, and Davis Kripke, extended family, business acquaintances and many friends. The funeral service will take place on Sunday February 18 at noon, at Congregation B’nai Israel in Sylvania Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the "Sherwin and Naomi Kripke Israel Program Fund" at www.cbitoledo.org/contributions/online-contributions/. But most of all, do something kind for someone, love your family as hard as you can, and think of Larry.

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