Kevin A. Kratovil

Kevin Arthur Kratovil, a dedicated engineer and passionate historian, passed away on October 16,2024, leaving behind a legacy of craftsmanship, knowledge, and love for his family. Born in Springfield, MA on Halloween in 1952 to parents Raymond and Nancy Anne Kratovil (Everton), both predeceased, Kevin was the second of five siblings and is survived by his three sisters; Beth Bellerive (Kratovil) and her husband Robert Bellerive of Holland, MA; Wendy Doyon (Kratovil) and her husband Jody Doyon of RI; Nory Burby (Kratovil) and her late husband Robert Burby, of Torrington, CT, as well as his step siblings Susan Gellormine, and her late husband Richard Gellormine of Stratford, CT, and Lou and Beth Gellormine of FL. His elder brother, Michael Kratovil, of Waterbury, CT, and his loving stepmother, Catherine Fant-Kratovil, of Stratford, CT, are also predeceased. Kevin’s early years were filled with adventure, as his parents and siblings had the pleasure of raising, training, and professionally showing purebred German Shepards. They traveled across the United States to dog shows and competitions, where they earned an abundance of prestigious awards and trophies from The American Kennel Club. This unique experience taught Kevin the value in hard work and dedication, and fostered his lifelong love of animals, as well as his deep admiration and respect for our beautiful country. Kevin had a profound interest in history, particularly military history, and devoted countless hours to studying and immersing himself in his books. A tinkerer by nature, he had a knack for repairing cars and was a true craftsman when it came to woodworking. As a loyal employee of Hamilton Standard for over 25 years, he worked hard to achieve his goals, eventually running for local office as a former member of the Southwick MA Board of Health, where he took pride in contributing to the well-being of his community. Kevin cherished his role as a father to his son, Kenneth Kratovil, and his daughter, Jennifer Watt (Kratovil-Siefken) and her husband, Mark Watt: all of Feeding Hills, MA. He was a devoted husband of 32 years to his former spouse and friend since childhood, Susan Kratovil (Caron), and together they built a life and family. Kevin will be remembered fondly by his two granddaughters, Devon and Hannah Siefken, of Williamsburg, VA, and his grandson, Ethyn Watt, of Feeding Hills, who will continue to share their grandfather’s passion for books and knowledge, as well as carrying on his crafting legacy using varying mediums of artistic expression. A service to honor his life and legacy will be held at Agawam United Methodist Church; 459 Mill St. Feeding Hills, MA; on Friday, November 8,2024 at 7pm, with light refreshments immediately following. All are welcome to attend. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Kevin's memorial page at www.nefcc.net for expressions of sympathy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations in Kevin’s memory. NAMI, PO Box 49104, Baltimore, MD 21297, https://donate.nami.org Feline Friends Cat Sanctuary, PO Box 174, Feeding Hills, MA 01030, www.felinefriendsinc.org (413)786-5019

Kevin A. Kratovil

October 31, 1952 - October 16, 2024