- Date Of Birth: January 5, 1933
- Date Of Death: July 30, 2016
- State: Maryland
Joseph Elmer Krebs, Jr., of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away at the DC VA Hospital on July 30, 2016. Joe was a resident of Chiang Mai, Thailand. He was the son of the late Mary Elizabeth Ryan who married Joseph Elmer Krebs, Sr. In addition to his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by his two sisters, Mary Jo Fite and Rose Ridgeway and his two brothers, Larry Krebs and Tom Krebs. Joseph is survived by his loving partner of 26 years, Dr. Kriangsak (Sak) Pukawan; his brother, George Krebs; his three children, Mary Devine and her fiancé Michael Rosen, his son William (Bill) Krebs, his daughter Julia Krebs and her spouse Michelle Wirkner, and a multitude of extended family members.
Joseph joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17; his mother had to sign him in because he was a minor. He was deployed to the Korean Conflict the week of his 18th birthday, from 1950 – 1954, becoming a team leader of the First Marine Division, First Marine Regiment, Able Company. He became the youngest Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps when the ranking soldiers in his unit gave their all. He received two Purple Heart awards for injuries sustained in hand-to-hand combat in Korea.
Joseph was a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a life member of the American Veterans Association, a life member of the First Marine Association, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Joseph was also a member of the National Education Association. He was a CPA and a Certified Cost Analyst, as well as serving as a Summer Faculty Fellow at The Pentagon and a Doctoral Fellow at Deloitte Haskins and Sells.
After serving in the Korean Conflict, Joseph graduated from the University of Miami with a BBA in Accounting in 1957. He also joined the U.S. Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant in 1957, eventually retiring as a Colonel in 1988. In 1958, Joseph completed his Master of Business Administration degree in Management. He was assigned to the General Staff College, graduated from the U.S. Army War College, as well as the Command and General Staff College in 1971. In 1974, Joseph finished his Doctor of Business of Administration Degree, with minors in Management and Economics. His dissertation was entitled, “The Historical Development of Human Resources as a Value in Financial Accounting”.
After working as an Internal Auditor, a Senior Auditor and Accountant, and then an Audit Partner, Joseph became a Business Professor. He taught at several Colleges and Universities in the United States and took periodic sabbaticals so that he could teach in Europe and Asian-Pacific Regions to members of our military. He was Chair of the Accounting Department at Winthrop University from 1977 to 1983. After retiring in 2000 and moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, Joseph taught in the International MBA Program at Payap University. With his life partner, Sak, he maintained a thriving tax business for expats living in Thailand until his death. Having given every ounce of his energy to his family, his country, his students, and his clients, right up until the day he passed, he will now be able to rest in peace.
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