Donald Joseph Krekel

Donald Joseph Krekel, 82, of Louisville, KY passed away Wednesday, February 23 with family by his side.

Born March 27, 1939, Don grew up in the west end of Louisville. As a child Don was a dreamer and loved riding his bike with Scrapers the dog as his wingman. In his sophomore year, his mother Agnes channeled Don's creativity into music lessons, playing the clarinet and then switching to the saxophone. It was at Durlauf's Music that Don met and fell in love with Ruby, the beautiful girl learning to play the accordion. He graduated from Flaget High School class of 1957, and in the same year he started his first band, The Stardusters.

Don and Ruby married in 1958 and welcomed their first child the following spring. In 1965, the soon to be family of six moved into their first house in St. Matthews where he lived for 55 years.

Don worked at Gatchel's Photography, Camera/Graphic Service in downtown for more than 25 years. In 1984, Don left his "day job" to focus solely on his "sideline" artistic endeavors of professional photography and The Don Krekel Orchestra. Many a bride and groom undoubtedly still cherish the wedding photos captured by Don.

Don's greatest creative passion and joy was mentoring hundreds of musicians, young and old, playing the "Big Band Sounds of Yesterday and Today." The Don Krekel Orchestra is a Louisville gem that has entertained thousands of music lovers for more than 64 years. He was a very "punny" guy and many would call him the Emperor of TMI and a walking encyclopedia of big band jazz.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Ruby McAdams Krekel; father, George M. Krekel, Sr.; mother, Agnes Receveur Krekel; brother, George M. Krekel, Jr.; and granddaughter, Kathleen Ellison.

Don is survived by his daughters Laura Ellison (Dave), Lynn Olszewski (John), Libby Eppler (Barry),and Lisa Hofmann (Joe); sisters, Joyce Koeberlein and Diane Wibbels (Dan); grandchildren, Beth Christenson (Blake), Nick Hofmann, George Olszewski (Deirdre), Jill Ellison, Colleen Poyer (Kyle), Jenny Ellison, Maggie Gutierrez (Andrew), Caroline Babcock (Robert), Forrest Eppler, Max Hofmann (Sarah), Olivia Eppler, and KJ Thomas (Nick); great grandchildren, Madison Christenson, McKenzie Christenson, Liam Gutierrez, Logan Guitierrez, and Maeve Olszewski.

Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, February 28, 2022 at Newcomer Cremation, Funerals & Receptions - East Louisville Chapel, 235 Juneau Drive. His Funeral Service will be at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 1, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 7813 Shelbyville Rd, Lyndon, KY. Graveside service following mass at Calvary Cemetery, 1600 Newburg Rd. in Louisville. Celebration of life following at Zachary Taylor Post, 4610 Shelbyville Rd. in St. Matthews. Attend live stream of funeral mass by visiting St. Margaret Mary's Facebook page or You-Tube, search for St. Margaret Mary, Louisville Kentucky.

The family requests that contributions in Don's memory be made to one of the following: Hosparus of Louisville at this link or the Don Krekel Orchestra Music Library Fund at the University Louisville Jazz Studies Program. To donate use the following link: https://louisville.edu/music/academics/areas-of-study/jazz > Donate > Select a Designation = Additional Funds > In the "Additional Details" box, please indicate that your contribution is for the benefit of the Don Krekel Orchestra Library Fund/Jazz Studies Program.

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