Julia Jean (Jack) Krutenat's Obituary
Julia Jean (Jack) Krutenat of Dover, Delaware, passed away Friday, July 25, 2025, at the age of 95. Born May 7, 1930, in Rochester, PA, the fourth daughter to Charles William Henry Jack and Lyda Annetta Myrtle Morgan, Jean was named after her paternal grandmother, Julia (Smeltzer) Jack, and a dear friend of her own mother’s, Jean. She was known as “Jean” to family, friends, and coworkers throughout her life.
Her father worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Later, he felt God was calling him to preach, so he left his job with the railroad to prepare for ministry and continued in ministry until the late 1950s. Her mother remained at home with the children until they were in school, and the family eventually relocated to Wyoming, Delaware.
Jean’s first “real job” was at McCrory’s 5 & 10 on Loockerman Street in Dover, Delaware. Prior to that, she babysat for several families in Wyoming, Delaware, where they lived, making .50 cents an hour babysitting.
Upon graduating from Caesar Rodney High School in 1949, with a job offer from a neighbor who lived on their street, Mr. Reily Brown, president at the local bank in Wyoming, provided Jean with on-the-job training where she learned the details of banking, back when everything was done by hand. In the Fall of 1951, she went with her sister, Marty, to Eastern Nazarene College on a dare. She had one fantastic year at ENC, came home, and went back into banking as a career. In April of 1967, she began working at a new bank in Dover, Artisan’s Savings Bank. She started as a bank teller and, 25 years later, retired as the Branch Manager of that same bank.
As significant as her career, Jean’s faith and family were most important in her life. As the daughter of a minister, church participation and family prayer times were a regular part of her upbringing. Jean would later become a charter member of the Dover Calvary Church of the Nazarene, which was then located at 1351 S. Governor’s Avenue in Dover. It was there that she met David Krutenat, stationed at Dover Air Force Base at the time. They married in 1965 and were both actively involved in the church for many years. The Church later relocated to 1818 N. Little Creek Road in Dover and was renamed, The Cross Church of the Nazarene
Jean’s ministry involvement over the years included serving on the church’s local Missions Council, Sunday School teacher, in Women’s Ministries, and Music and Choir ministry. In addition, she and her husband, David, served on the Washington (now Mid-Atlantic) District Church of the Nazarene’s Lay Retreat Committee for several years.
She is preceded in death by three sisters, Alice Anne, whom she never knew as she survived only two days after birth, and two older sisters, Marthella ”Marty” (Glenn) Elsey and Margaret “Marie” (Paul) Clendaniel, who died in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
Jean is survived by her two children, Terry Brinkman of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Amy (John) Nielson, of Manchester, CT; three granddaughters, Bethany Nielson of Ohio, Kathryn (David) Drennan of Maryland, and Jenna Nielson of Massachusetts, and one great-grandson. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will take place Saturday, August 16th at The Cross Church of the Nazarene, 1818 N. Little Creek Road, Dover, DE 19901. Visitation at 10 AM, followed by the Service at 11:00 AM. In place of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made in Jean’s memory to The Cross Church of the Nazarene in Dover, DE.
What’s your fondest memory of Julia?
What’s a lesson you learned from Julia?
Share a story where Julia's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Julia you’ll never forget.
How did Julia make you smile?