[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 111 (Monday, July 11, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF ALVIN KREUZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 11, 2016

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Alvin Kreuz of 
Delta, Ohio. Al passed from this life on May 20 after being given 80 
years surrounded by his loving family.
  Al Kreuz was born in Swanton, Ohio to Jacob and Melvina Kreuz. He was 
the second youngest in a family of eleven children. After graduating 
high school, Al enlisted in the United States Army where he served from 
1955 to 1957. After coming home, he married his wife Charlotte in 1959. 
Together over the next 57 years Al and Char raised a family of their 
own: sons Mike, Gary and Alvin John Jr and daughters, Laurie, Becky and 
Barbie. As the years passed they were later blessed with fourteen 
grandchildren.
  Though he spent his professional career with Sohio Company and later 
in partnership at Toledo Radiator and Glass, Al's true passion as a 
businessman was his forty year career as owner and operator of Smith's 
Restaurant in Wauseon, Ohio. Just off the turnpike, featuring delicious 
home-cooked fare and outstanding pies, everyone in Fulton County and 
even further knew of Smith's Restaurant and Al and Char Kreuz and their 
family.
  Long a business leader, Al had a strong commitment to community and 
wanted to serve his fellow citizens. He did so as an elected 
politician, serving three terms as a Fulton County Commissioner. As his 
obituary noted, `` `Vote for the man, not the party' was his slogan 
that earned him the distinction in 1980 of being the first Democrat 
elected in Fulton County in 48 years!'' His tenure was marked by 
compassion and a devotion to the county and people he served. Fulton 
County, Ohio and its residents truly benefitted from Al Kreuz's public 
service.
  Not just a business and political leader, Al was also a leader in 
several civic associations including the Knights of Columbus, Wauseon 
Rotary, Catholic War Vets and the Delta F & M Advisory Board.
  He also loved sports. His obituary highlights that ``he was an 
integral member of a group that founded the Wauseon Racquet Club . . . 
As a lifelong athlete and sports enthusiast, his talents on the 
softball field, bowling alley, and golf course earned him many awards 
and accolades. He was most proud of his nine (no, you didn't misread 
this) holes-in-one. His skill never abated and for the last twelve 
years he continued to periodically shoot his age up until the end. As 
for bowling, his first and only perfect 300 game earned him a $10,000 
purse (ironically sponsored by Smith's Restaurant!). His love of 
athletics and teaching prompted him to volunteer as a coach with the 
CYO and St. Mary's (now Holy Trinity) basketball programs for 27 years. 
Additionally he coached little league and later assisted the Evergreen 
HS golf team.'' His love of sports and support of his teams is also 
evident in his claim as a University of Michigan Wolverines season 
ticket holder for 44 years. His favorite sporting events were those of 
his grandchildren, where he could always be counted on to be cheering 
for them on the sidelines.
  As if his devotion to family, his business, community, civic 
organizations and sports teams was not enough, Al was also a talented 
tinkerer. As he was tinkering in his workshop he developed ``an amazing 
talent in woodworking. Many of his family and friends continue to enjoy 
his labors of love'' including me.
  I was privileged to know Al Kreuz for more than thirty years and 
counted he and Char and their family among friends. For a decade we 
shared the goal of making life better in Fulton County, Ohio. Al Kreuz 
was a family man, business and civic leader, citizen statesman and so 
much more. His legacy is writ large in Fulton County, Ohio. His life 
and times, his service and talents are imprinted there as his good 
works of family and community carry forward.

                          ____________________