TOPSHAM — John (Ive) Kraljic, age 94, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015, after a brief illness.
John was born in Omasalj, Otek Krk in Croatia on Sept. 12, 1920.
John arrived in the United States with a visa in 1939 at the age of 18 to visit his parents in NYC. At the dawn of WW2, it became too dangerous for a return trip. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 1943 and was trained as a survey sergeant. He became a citizen of the United States at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, on Feb. 17, 1944. His tour of duty included New Guinea, the Philippines and Nagasaki, Japan, until his honorable discharge in February 1946.
His education included a B.S. in chemical engineering from the College of the City of New York (1950). He also obtained a M.S. in chemistry from Northeastern University in Boston (1960). He was employed as a project scientist for Aerovox Corporation in New Bedford, MA (1950- 1963), and Allied Chemical in Solvey, NY, until his retirement as a chemist in 1982. He presented his publications on metal finishing at national and local meetings. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Electroplaters Society.
John was a devout Catholic, enjoyed family life along with winters spent in Florida after retirement. A memorable experience for him was to return to his homeland in Croatia with his wife, Ruby, to attend his 50th class reunion to visit family and friends.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Ruby Luscomb Kraljic of 48 years; his parents, Anton Kraljic Jelusic and Luce Albanese Zvanovic; two sisters, Nina (Mikulina) Dapcic and Catherine (Katica) Eastling.
Survivors include his son, John Luscomb Kraljic and wife Shari, his daughter Ann Kraljic Bader and husband Howard, along with two grandchildren Desiree and Dylan Bader. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews in the United States, Canada and Croatia.
The family would like to thank the wonderful care he received recently at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick along with his brief stay at Coastal Manor in Yarmouth.
Friends and family may visit 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal St., Brunswick, ME. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at noon at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Brunswick. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, NY.
Memories and condolences can be expressed at www.brackettfuneralhome.co m. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to North Area Meals on Wheels, 413 Church St., North Syracuse, NY 13212 or Council on Aging, C/O Brannen Senior Center, 105 South Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32032.
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