Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
James “Hank” Krum of The Dalles, Ore., went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ, on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, with family at his side. James was born on May 19, 1927 and was 90 years of age at the time of his passing.
Hank was born in Kellogg, Idaho to Art and Mary Krum. His father later moved the family to Yakima, WA, where he started Krum Industrial Supply, serving the mining and farming communities. Yakima is where Hank and his older sister, Phyllis, spent their early years before moving to Burien, WA. Hank graduated from Highline High School in Burien in 1946. During his youth, he learned to play the saxophone, ran track, and became an Eagle Scout.
Hank played in several big bands, including the “Hugh Haworth Band” in the Seattle, WA area, which enabled him to attend Shoreline Community College. Recognized for his hard work ethic, morals, academic achievement and drive, he was hired by The Boeing Company under their co-op program. Through this program, he attended the University of Washington and earned his bachelor’s in aviation electronics with an emphasis in electrical engineering. Notable achievements while at Boeing include: In the 1950s, he worked on the Minuteman Missile Program and was the instrumentation systems engineer on the flight test crew of the “City of Renton” (the first KC-135 for the Air Force). During the 1960s, he was the instrumentation engineer for the development of the USAF C-141, the Boeing 707, the supersonic transport program, and was also a member of the flight test crew of the maiden Boeing 747.
After retirement, Hank was the Band Leader of “Krum’s Kombo” dance band, which won first place in Washington State and in the National Grange Musical Competition in 1977. He was a member of the “Mud Bay Dixieland Band,” “White Salmon Jazz Band,” “Gorge Winds Symphony,” “Gorge Winds Jazz Ensemble” and founded the “Jazz Generations Quartet,” which featured Hank and Ann Krum, Bob Fiske and Dave Fretz.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ann Krum, nine children, 16 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister; son JD and grandson Mike.
A private celebration of life, per his request, will be held on September 2, 2017, and will be officiated by his grandson, Pastor Alex Krum.
