Juergen Alfred Kromer's Obituary
Juergen Alfred "Fred" Kromer July 21, 1939 – May 19, 2026
Survived by wife, Connie Kromer, 2 daughters: Kayla & husband James Mika and Kimberly & husband Jason Elwood, 4 Ebers grandsons: Thomas, Joseph, Caleb, Benjamin and his wife Valerie, granddaughter Alexis Ebers and 1 great-grandchild Jurgen Ebers.
Born on July 21, 1939, in Mannheim, Germany, Juergens' early childhood was shaped by the immense hardships of World War II. After tragically losing his father and his childhood home to the conflict, Juergen, Angelika, his surviving sister Alice Kromer Dietert and their mother survived by fleeing from city to city to escape bombs. She struggled to provide for their every need, and relied on the kindness of others. Raised by his remarkably strong and resilient Swiss mother, Juergen learned early the value of fierce determination. Her strength inspired him to pursue higher education, studying culinary arts and hotel management in Germany. Driven by a lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur in the United States, Juergen immigrated with no knowledge of the English language. Undeterred, he taught himself English, eventually developing an incredibly rich and expansive vocabulary. Demonstrating his legendary work ethic, he worked full-time for an oil company, Magcobar, during the day while putting himself through cosmetology school in the evenings.
A man of immense talent, Juergen "Fred" filled his life with music and movement. He played the guitar, harmonica, and accordion, and lent his beautiful voice to the Houston Barbershop Quartet and was a member of The Rotary Club. His love for life eventually led him to ballroom dance lessons, where he met the absolute love of his life, Connie Kromer. The two were married in July 1962, beginning a beautiful partnership and were together for countless years. In 1965, Fred fulfilled his entrepreneurial dream by opening his first hair salon inside the prestigious Warwick Hotel. Connie soon earned her barber's license to join him, and together they built a thriving business. The legacy grew even deeper when their daughters, Kayla and Kimberly, joined the business, creating a beautiful tradition of working side-by-side that lasted for over six decades. While Fred possessed countless professional talents, he will be remembered most for living out his faith. He dedicated his heart and life to the Lord Jesus, truly living out his faith every single day. He was the quintessential gentleman, easygoing, loving, and always ready with a kind nod and a contagious smile. Fred loved his adopted country deeply, often joking that because his daughters were born on Flag Day and the day after the Fourth of July, he was just showing his true American patriotism.
Above all, Fred was a devoted family man. His heart belonged to God first, his beloved Connie second, and his family. He was a true example of Christ. Patient and loving father to his three daughters, Kayla, Kimberly, and Kristen Noel; a deeply generous "Papa" to his six grandchildren including Dylan and Brendon, who were standing at the gate of heaven to welcome their papa; and a proud great-grandfather to his great-grandchild Jurgen, who honors him by carrying his namesake. Fred was truly at his happiest when everyone was gathered, eating delicious meals, sharing love, stories, and laughter. His hope would be that in his absence the family will continue by gathering in love and continuing to share stories. His presence will be deeply missed, but his spirit lives on in the family he loved so well.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to a children's organization of your choice or Compassion International https://www.compassion.com/
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