in loving memory of
L. Emil Kreider
February 25, 1938 - October 28, 2021
Memorial Service
Service will be on Thursday, July 21, at 2:00 p.m.
(prelude music beginning at 1:50) Join the live-stream by clicking on the video image below. |
Slideshow of Emil's life
Obituary
Emil Kreider of Harrisonburg, Va., died Oct. 28, 2021, at Sentara RMH Medical Center. He was born Feb. 25, 1938, in Newton, Kan., as the first child of the late Leonard and Rachel (Weaver) Kreider.
He graduated from Bethel College (Kansas) with a degree in economics and business and from The Ohio State University with M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics. On June 10, 1963, he married Louise (Pankratz) Kreider, who survives. Emil started his teaching career at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill., but spent most of his career (36 years) teaching at Beloit College in Beloit, Wis. At Beloit College he was active in faculty governance, and during his career at various times was chair of the economics department, held the Allen-Bradley Chair in economics, and was Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs. He also served many years on Beloit College’s Faculty Status and Performance Committee, chaired two searches for chief academic officers, and served on a presidential search committee. He was a regular for 36 years at “Noon Ball” (basketball) at Beloit College and after retirement was a regular duplicate bridge player during most of his 14 years living at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg, Va. In Beloit he was a member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as Treasurer and Deacon. He enjoyed working on practical economics and business projects during leaves and sabbaticals. These included two years in Latin America as a USAID contractor, one of those years in Bolivia and Ecuador with The Ohio State University Research Foundation and the other in Paraguay with Development Associates of Washington, D.C. He also worked at various times for a number of businesses such as Deere and Co. in Moline, Ill.; Dole in San Francisco, Calif.; American Family Insurance in Madison, Wis.; United Bank of Illinois and American National Bank in Rockford, Ill.; Stan Forestal in San Jose, Costa Rica; and with government and other organizations including the Ohio Bureau of Unemployment Compensation in Columbus, Ohio; the Wisconsin Department of Industry of Labor and Human Resources in Janesville, Wis.; and Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, Ill. He also consulted with numerous attorneys on cases involving present value analysis, especially pension and proof of economic loss cases, and he often testified in court. Emil was a loving husband, father, and grandfather—a constant support for his family. Nothing meant more to him, and he was loved deeply by his family in return. He was widely respected and admired by his colleagues, students, and most anyone he met. He retained his amazing unique(!) sense of humor, thoughtfulness, and selflessness to the end. In addition to his wife, Emil is survived by his children, Brent Kreider (Colleen) of Ames, Iowa; Todd Kreider of Madison, Wis.; and Ryan Kreider (Yana Gorokhovskaia) of Sunnyside, N.Y.; grandchildren, Nicole, Gemma, Delaney, and Keira (Brent); and Ilya and Nino (Ryan). In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his two sisters, Anna (Kreider) Juhnke and Sara (Kreider) Hartzler. At his request, Emil’s body has been donated to Science Care. A family celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts in Emil’s memory be made to the VMRC Compassion Fund or to the college, university, or charitable fund of your choice. |
A Tribute from Beloit College
Remembering Emil Kreider, economics professor emeritus
by Eric Boynton, Ph.D., Provost and Dean of the College
November 3, 2021
Colleagues,
We learned the sad news this week that Professor Emeritus Emil Kreider, a beloved, longtime member of our community, died Oct. 28 in Harrisonburg, Va.
A professor of economics and management from 1970 to 2006, he was a one-man support system for students for decades. Known for pairing tough grading with effective teaching and a genuine concern for his students’ welfare, he also endeared himself to students with his droll sense of humor. Generations of Beloiters will remember his “joke of the day” and the hot mugs of the powdered drink mix Tang he served in 8:00 a.m. economics courses.
He chaired the economics department and held the Allen-Bradley chair in economics. He contributed to the college’s well-being and advancement in myriad ways, serving multiple stints on the Faculty Status and Performance Committee, stepping in as acting dean of the college, and working on many high-profile faculty and staff searches, including a presidential search committee.
Professor Bob Elder recalls his friend and colleague: “For everyone who visited Campbell Hall, Emil’s office door provided a microcosm of his subtle sense of humor. It was there that Emil posted clippings of newspaper headlines such as ‘Economist attributes inflation to rising prices’ and ‘Military head seeks arms.’”
Over his entire tenure, Professor Kreider was a regular on Beloit’s noonball (basketball) team and worked on the chain crew during home football games.
“Everyone regarded Emil with the greatest esteem,” Bob says. “His exemplary academic citizenship extended from one end of Chapin Street (the campus) to the other (Strong Stadium), where on Saturday afternoons he served on the chain gang at home football games. Asked why he was the person who worked the down marker, Emil would humbly reply, “I’m the one who knows how to count to four.”
His family said he retained his “sense of humor, thoughtfulness, and selflessness to the end.”
Plans are underway to honor Professor Kreider at Econ Day in February.
by Eric Boynton, Ph.D., Provost and Dean of the College
November 3, 2021
Colleagues,
We learned the sad news this week that Professor Emeritus Emil Kreider, a beloved, longtime member of our community, died Oct. 28 in Harrisonburg, Va.
A professor of economics and management from 1970 to 2006, he was a one-man support system for students for decades. Known for pairing tough grading with effective teaching and a genuine concern for his students’ welfare, he also endeared himself to students with his droll sense of humor. Generations of Beloiters will remember his “joke of the day” and the hot mugs of the powdered drink mix Tang he served in 8:00 a.m. economics courses.
He chaired the economics department and held the Allen-Bradley chair in economics. He contributed to the college’s well-being and advancement in myriad ways, serving multiple stints on the Faculty Status and Performance Committee, stepping in as acting dean of the college, and working on many high-profile faculty and staff searches, including a presidential search committee.
Professor Bob Elder recalls his friend and colleague: “For everyone who visited Campbell Hall, Emil’s office door provided a microcosm of his subtle sense of humor. It was there that Emil posted clippings of newspaper headlines such as ‘Economist attributes inflation to rising prices’ and ‘Military head seeks arms.’”
Over his entire tenure, Professor Kreider was a regular on Beloit’s noonball (basketball) team and worked on the chain crew during home football games.
“Everyone regarded Emil with the greatest esteem,” Bob says. “His exemplary academic citizenship extended from one end of Chapin Street (the campus) to the other (Strong Stadium), where on Saturday afternoons he served on the chain gang at home football games. Asked why he was the person who worked the down marker, Emil would humbly reply, “I’m the one who knows how to count to four.”
His family said he retained his “sense of humor, thoughtfulness, and selflessness to the end.”
Plans are underway to honor Professor Kreider at Econ Day in February.