WARREN KRANIG
Warren (Willie) Paul Kranig, 75, of Greeley, CO, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his own home surrounded by his family on December 22, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. Willie was born on July 23, 1945, in Wagner to Raymond and Louise Kranig of Marty. He was raised on a farm where he learned the sense of pride in a hard day’s work. He graduated from Ravinia High School in Ravinia, in May of 1963. After high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Army where he proudly served his country for three years, spending 19 months in Korea. Willie and his wife, Carol, knew each other in high school, and while on a short military leave, they reunited and fell in love. They were married on July 29, 1967. They initially lived in Sioux City, IA, moved to Elk Point, and eventually resided in Wagner until July 1979, when they moved to Greeley, CO.
After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Willie worked various jobs. He was a milkman for Terrace Park Dairy and helped his father on the farm. For many years, he was a volunteer local fireman, a member of the American Legion, and served on the Wagner Labor Day Committee. In 1976, Willie bought a local gas station in Wagner, S.D., but found that being a business owner was not his passion. While living in Greeley, CO, Willie was employed at the Monfort Meat Packing Plant for a short period of time until he began his career with Coca-Cola Bottling Company for 33 years. While working for Coca-Cola, he held many positions within the company including delivery, sales, supervisor and semi driver.
Willie was a devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. Family meant the world to him. He loved to travel back to South Dakota to visit family and friends and always had a fondness for the Black Hills. He loved sports, especially football, and his favorite teams were the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. He spent his free time watching various sports and westerns on T.V., but his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family, especially his granddaughters.
Willie is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carol Kranig, his children, Teresa Ribble and significant other, Chad Norway; and Todd Kranig and wife, Sonja Kranig; his sister, Patty (Kranig) Countryman; his granddaughters, Kailyn Ribble, Makayla Kranig, Lauren Ribble, Morgan Kranig, and Jenna Ribble and a host of loving in-laws, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, and longtime friends.
Willie is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Louise Kranig, his siblings, Charles Kranig, Retta (Kranig) Blaha, and Phyllis (Kranig) Crichton, his niece and nephews, Cindy and Charles Kranig II and Troy Crichton.
A visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on January 20, 2021 and a private family memorial service with military honors will be held on January 21, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Allnutt Funeral & Cremation – Macy Chapel, 6521 W. 20th Street, Greeley, CO. Willie will be laid to rest at the Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Avenue. Denver, CO on January 22, 2021. A celebration of life will be held around his birthday in July 2021.