In Memory
David “Dave” Jerome Kromkowski
January 09, 1961 ~ May 05, 2026
David “Dave” Kromkowski, 65, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, at Sentara Norfolk Heart Hospital after a long and hard-fought battle. Dave was born on January 9th, 1961, in South Bend, Indiana, to Jerome and Claire (Kaysen) Kromkowski. He was preceded in death by his father, Jerome, and is survived by his mother, Claire.
Dave graduated from LaSalle High School in 1979.
Dave proudly served 37 years in the United States Air Force, retiring on January 1st, 2017, as a Senior Master Sergeant. Following his military career, he worked as a logistics coordinator at Newport News Shipbuilding until the time of his passing.
On September 12th, 1998, at First Landing Chapel, Dave married the love of his life, Carol Galluccio, who survives. Together they built a life full of laughter, adventure, and stories that will live on forever.
He is also survived by his daughter, Samantha Kromkowski of Struga, North Macedonia, and his son, Nathaniel Kromkowski of Radford, Virginia. Dave was a loving (and often self-proclaimed pain in the a**) husband to Carol, and a dingus of a father to Sami and Nate, teaching life lessons in his own unconventional—and sometimes questionable—ways.
Dave is survived by his siblings: Catherine Shultz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Joseph (Marty) Kromkowski of Mishawaka, Indiana; and Christopher J. (Marianne) Kromkowski of Rochester, Indiana. He also leaves behind seven nieces and nephews: Rachel (Ron) Bacewic, Jessica (Al) Blomeke, Jimmy (Dana) Kromkowski, Zachary (Miranda) Kromkowski, Casimir Kromkowski, Alex Kromkowski, and Jurek Shultz; along with six great-nieces and nephews: Emma Blomeke, Roxie Bacewic, Jacob Blomeke, Rhett Bacewic, Olivia Kromkowski, and Maxwell Kromkowski.
To everyone else, Dave was the life of the party—the loudest laugh in the room and the last one to leave. Dave leaves behind a legacy of laughter, stubbornness, service, and love. May he now be somewhere on an endless horizon, singing Jimmy Buffett on a boat, drink in hand, riding into the sunset for eternity.
Posted online on May 08, 2026
Published in South Bend Tribune
Added 05/09/2026 0454 GMS
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