Joseph John Kronzer passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025, in Severna Park, MD. Joe was born on May 1, 1933, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the oldest of nine children born to Dr. Joseph and Lucille (nee Wagner) Kronzer. Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years Carole Jeanne (nee Weyenberg) Kronzer. Following Carole’s death, Joe married Audrey Lucille Delwiche (nee Maichen) who preceded him in death in 2019. Joe is survived by his three children: Michael Joseph Kronzer (Pam) of Chester, MD, Marley Ann Williams (Drew) of Zephyr Cove, NV, Elizabeth Marie McConville (Mike) of Severna Park, MD, together with eight grandchildren Amy, Cara, Emily, Lindsay, Andrew, Meghan, Courtney and Jay and seventeen great-grandchildren.

Joe graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1951 and the United States Naval Academy, class of 1955. He served 20 years in the Navy, retiring as a Commander in 1975. Joe’s naval career included sea service on the destroyer USS BRAINE (DD630), the cruiser USS CHICAGO (CG21) and, as a Navy Submariner, Joe served on five submarines: USS ARCHERFISH (SS311), USS QUILLBACK (SS4240), USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (SSBN602), USS BLENNY (SS324) and USS HARDHEAD (SS 365). Joe’s submarine service culminated with the command of the USS HARDHEAD. Joe’s navy shore assignments included the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where he earned a Master of Science degree in Operations Analysis, Chairman of the Management Science Department and instructor duty at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and the Submarine Tactical Analysis and Development Group in New London, CT. While at the Submarine Development Group, Joe was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Unit Citation Ribbon for developing the tactics used by U.S. nuclear attack submarines to track and counter Russian ballistic missile submarines during the Cold War period. Joe was also awarded the China Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, and he proudly wore the Gold Dolphin Submarine pin, the Strategic Nuclear Submarine Ballistic Missile Patrol Pin (with 3 stars), and the Command-at-Sea pin.

Following a 20-year career in the Navy, Joe worked for another 26 years in industry as an Electronics System Engineer and Program Manager. Upon retiring in 2001 from Northrop-Grumman Corporation Defense Electronics Group in Baltimore, MD, Joe moved to a home on Lake Anna in Virginia where he continued to work a a systems engineering consultant with Innovative Management Concepts, Inc. In Charlottesville, VA.

Following the loss of his first wife and remarriage, Joe took up living a “snowbird” life, dividing his time between summer residences in Troy, Ohio and Oshkosh, Wisconsin and wintering in The Villages, Florida, where he became an avid golfer. He also enjoyed riding his motor scooter and was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He attended Saint Vicent de Paul Catholic Church in Wildwood, FL, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 13360.

The last 4 years Joe lived in Severna Park, Maryland near most of his family and near Annapolis, which he always considered his home.

Services will be held in the Spring, 2026, with Joe being interred at the U.S. Naval Academy columbarium alongside his beloved first wife, Carole.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to a veteran charity of your choice.