Jeremiah J. Kruntorad

PIERCE – Funeral service for Jeremiah Joseph Kruntorad, 22 of Pierce, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pierce. Officiating the service will be Pastor Josh Alloway. Inurnment will take place at a later date. Visitation will take place from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Monday, at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Military rites will be conducted by the Nebraska National Guard and the Tomek-Otto Post #72 American Legion of Pierce. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, https://t2t.org/. The service will be live-streamed on the Stonacek Funeral Chapel Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stonacekfuneralchapel/. Jeremiah died in the early morning of Sunday, April 21, 2024 at his apartment in Wayne. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. He was born in Norfolk to parents Joseph and Korina Kruntorad on January 4, 2002. He was followed by brothers Michael and Peyton Kruntorad. He was also raised alongside his cousins Thomas Burr and Christian Beery, taken in by Jeremiah’s parents. Numerous family members, friends, and school companions have memories that speak volumes about his character and how much he was loved and appreciated in life. Greta Guercilena, a friend of Jeremiah who met him during her study-abroad year at Pierce High School, said that her visit to the United States was truly marked by his humor and sunny disposition and that she fondly remembers the time she spent with him. If you were lucky enough to have known Jeremiah, or “JJ,” or “Jerry,” or “Juice,” you know he was a caring, intelligent, hardworking, lovable, and overall, outstanding young man. He was a blessing to all those who were close to him. Jeremiah graduated in the 2020 class from Pierce High School and was involved in football, wrestling, band, and summer baseball for the Legion team in Pierce. He attended Chadron State College for three years and Wayne State College for a partial year before his death. He majored in criminal justice. Jeremiah was a great help working for his father’s business, Kruntorad Construction. He also served in the National Guard for nearly four years. Up until the age of five, Jeremiah lived in Belden, Nebraska. His family then moved to Pierce where he spent the rest of his elementary and high school years. He briefly lived in Fort Benning, Georgia, for National Guard basic training. He moved to Chardon, Nebraska, and then to Wayne for school. Jeremiah was a confirmed member of the Cornerstone Christian Church, formerly the United Methodist Church. Some special interests of Jeremiah included UFC, Star Wars, boating, hiking, boxing, working out, gaming with friends, snowboarding, and skiing. He was also an avid sports fan, especially the Green Bay Packers football team. Jeremiah is survived by his parents Joseph (Korina) Kruntorad of Pierce; and his brothers Michael Kruntorad, of Wayne, Nebraska; and Peyton Kruntorad of Pierce. His surviving grandparents include and Maurice “Butch” (Kathy) Hahlbeck of rural Foster, Nebraska; and Dixie Kruntorad of Wagner, South Dakota. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles: Nicholas and Robin Hahlbeck of Kansas City, Missouri; Daniel and Kamille Risinger of Foster; and John Kruntorad of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His surviving cousins include Thomas Burr; Christian Beery, Christian’s former spouse Sasha Beery; Kaden, Gabe, and Evelyn Kruntorad; Jena Hahlbeck; and Emma, Lily, and Keegan Risinger. Other surviving family includes Thomas Burr’s son and Christian Beery and Sasha Beery’s children: Ziyah Burr and Reese and Kendrick Beery. He is also survived by his childhood pet cat Katie and dog Jordan. Jeremiah was predeceased by his grandfather Duane Kruntorad and his aunt Jean Burr. The family thanks all those in the community who have poured out their love and support during this difficult time. Jeremiah was an amazing person and is loved and deeply missed by so many. Casket bearers will be Michael Kruntorad, Peyton Kruntorad, Christian Beery, Thomas Burr, Carter Rohrich, Jayden Coulter, Chase Rasmussen, Alex McKeown, Patrick Blake, Noah Burtis, Ethan Dohmen, and Blake Rutten. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

Tributes

Jeremiah J. Kruntorad

January 4, 2002 - April 21, 2024