Carlton Neal Kroese

Carlton Neal Kroese, 73, passed away suddenly on June 13, 2026. He was born on August 30, 1952, to Donald James and Mary Carlene (Meisinger) Kroese, in Omaha, Nebraska. He spent most of his younger years growing up in Springfield, Nebraska.

Upon graduating Platteview High School, Class of 1970, he went on to join the United States Navy to serve his country on February 8, 1971. He married his high school sweetheart, Jane L Hansen on September 9, 1972, when she joined him where he was stationed in San Diego, California at the Naval Hospital where he was a corpsman. They resided in California until his honorable discharge on February 7, 1977. They then moved to Papillion, Nebraska, where they lived on Jane’s family feedlot until they moved to Wyoming. At that time, he was a heavy equipment operator that took them on many moves. He wore many hats and got to do many different jobs; he was a stainless-steel welder in Colorado at a dairy processing plant before it closed and he then transferred with the same company to San Antonio, Texas, before his retiring. They then moved a little further north to Gorman, Texas, about 8 years ago, because they were spoiled by the milder winters. Carlton had a great passion for his racing homing pigeons which took them on an all-expense paid trip to China, in 2008, upon being there he sold pigeons and attended races that his birds were in.

Carlton leaves behind his wife, Jane of Gorman, Texas, his daughter, Kimberly Powers and her husband, Daniel of Axtel, Nebraska, son, Phillip Kroese of Utah, his grandchildren; Braden, Carver, Landon, Teá, and Zoey, and his beloved dog, Bean, as well as his many racing homing pigeons.

Carlton is preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister, Rebecca Kroese.

There will be a celebration of life in Carlton’s honor on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Springfield Community Hall, Springfield, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Carlton's name to The American Racing Pigeon Association, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, donations go to yearly scholarship funds for those related to an active or retired flyer that plan on attending college, these donations may be made to Jane who will handle them.