Rose Kraffert Krokenberger

Wyoming, Delaware- Rose Kraffert Krokenberger died peacefully in her home in January 2019. She was 87. Born in NYC in Nov 1931, she was the 2nd child of the late Erich Kurt & Amalie Wanda Kraffert.

The family moved to a small farm in Wyoming, DE in 1932. After graduating Caesar Rodney HS, she attended Goldie secretarial school in Wilmington. Her marriage to Roy Krokenberger in 1951 relocated her to Morton, PA and later to Binghamton, NY. Returning to Delaware in 1975, as a single mother, she worked at Delaware State College in the Agricultural Dept, and retired from her state service with the De Housing Authority in 1995. After retiring, she volunteered at the Wesley clothes closet in Dover. She was a member of Wyoming UMC and a familiar face at Spence’s Bazaar and Modern Maturity. She briefly married William Simmons of Denton, MD. In 2007, she met her sweetheart and husband Emerson R Custis who blessed her with affectionate attention until death. Rose will be remembered for her putting on ruby slippers in a 1963 stage production of The Wizard of Oz, love of theatre and poetry, roadside flowerbeds, a soprano in the choir, ability to repair copier machines, & precision penmanship, sewing, and organizational habits. She enjoyed visiting her family as they spread their wings and moved about the country, and was proud of her German heritage. Her mind kept active by completing every puzzle in daily newspapers and body with swimming.

She is survived by sisters Grace Lowe & Alice Witterman. 4 children Linda, Alan, Janet & Jay. 4 grandchildren Jason, Erich, Ricky, & Brandon, and 8 nieces & nephews. And a special great grandson Jayden (the Jammin Jitterbug) Niblett.

A memorial service will be on Tuesday, Feb 12th 2:00pm, at Wyoming UMC, 216 Wyoming Mill Road, Wyoming, DE. Light refreshments to follow. Friends & family invited. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Ronald McDonald House of Wilmington or Down Syndrome Assoc of DE.  

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