Dr. Franklin Harold Kriewaldt, DVM

Dr. Franklin Harold Kriewaldt, DVM, a loving husband and father of eight who dedicated his life to animal care and research, died on May 1, 2009, in Frederick, Maryland. He was 80.

Dr. Kriewaldt was born August 25, 1928, in Belle Plaine, Wisconsin, to Julius W. Kriewaldt and Katherine Lowenberger. He graduated from the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1957.

He served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and worked as a primate researcher in Project Mercury, training chimpanzees for space travel.

He continued his service with the U.S. Air Force Reserves and retired after 22 years at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After his military service, Dr. Kriewaldt worked in private veterinary practice and research in New Braunfels, Texas, for 20 years. He later joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C., where he worked for the agency's Emergency Programs specializing in animal diseases.

He retired in early 2008 after 20 years at USDA.

He was a longtime member of the Optimist Club and was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Walkersville, Maryland.

Dr. Wonderful, as he was known at home, is survived by his wife of 34 years, Carole Ann Kriewaldt.

The couple married on March 21, 1975, in New Braunfels, Texas.

Survivors also include his children, Leslie Kriewaldt and her husband, Greg Mefford, of League City, Texas; David Kriewaldt and his wife, Natasha Rostova, of Houston, Texas; Dr.Sheila Page and her husband, Dr. Ray Page, of Aledo, Texas; Michael Kriewaldt and his wife,Tammy,of New Braunfels, Texas;MelanieKriewaldt-Roth of Liberty Hill, Texas; John Schwab and his wife, Jeanna, of Austin, Texas; and Amy Kriewaldt of Frederick, Maryland.

He is survived by 14 grandchildren, including Clayton Kriewaldt and his wife, Taylor; Julia, Melanie, Stephanie, Jackson and Daniel Page; Levi and Garrett Clemens; Christopher Michael and Thomas Duane Kriewaldt; Sam and Jack Roth; John and Joseph Schwab; and one great grandchild, Cohen Kriewaldt. Additional survivors include two sisters, Hattie Thom of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and his twin sister Francis Gretzinger of Clintonville, Wisconsin; 13 nieces and nephews; 27 great nieces and nephews; and one great-great niece.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Alex and Lawrence Kriewaldt; and three sisters, Viola Piehl, Eleanora Elliot, Juliana Matravers.

Visitation: See above information

Services: Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM. on Monday, May 11, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 14 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Walkesville, MD. 21793 Family friend and pastor, Reverend Mark L. Foucart officiating. A private burial service will be held later at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

The family asks that memorials or donations be made to the Jesus Juveniles of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church or to Lewy Body Disease Research c/o National Institute of Neurological Disorders.
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