Bruce Geoffrey Kratz, 75, of Ridgeville, SC passed away surrounded by love August 30th, 2018 at Trident Medical Center from complications of a stroke he suffered July 23rd, his 75th birthday. He was born in Detroit, Michigan, son of the late Elmer H. Kratz and the late June Brodbeck Kratz, and younger brother to the late Gerald H. Kratz. He grew up with his family in Miami, Florida and graduated from Miami Palmetto High School, then joined and proudly served in the United States Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division as a Ranger in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
He studied Business Management at The College of Charleston, and became extremely successful in the automobile sales industry, eventually owning his own dealership, Bruce Kratz Dodge, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He retired 12 years ago and moved to Traveler’s Crossing Equestrian Center in Ridgeville, South Carolina. In his early years, he was an avid horseman who owned, trained and successfully competed Quarter Horses in Pleasure, Barrel Racing, Reining and Cutting.
He passed on his passion for horses and animals to his daughters. He adopted multiple rescue dogs over the years, some of them seniors, and gave them beautiful lives in his home and on the farm. He also enjoyed golf most of his life, fiercely pursuing perfection of his game for many years.
He loved his Harley Davidson and meeting his friends out to have some drinks and smoke some cigars, or just riding with his buddies. He was a sweet, loving, gentle man and he loved his four daughters equally and unconditionally to the very end. He is survived by his daughters, Tawnya Patrice Brazel, Tamara Elizabeth Brown, husband, David C. Brown, Theresa Lynn Kratz, Nicole Kratz Singley, husband, Loren Singley; his grandchildren, Bret Patrick Lucarelli , wife Julianna Elizabeth Lucarelli, Britney Patrice Lucarelli, husband Eugene Clinton Lappe, IV, Bently Parker Brazel, Bayte Pryce Brazel, and Austin Elizabeth Griswold; also, his great-grandchildren, Addison Mae Lucarelli (11), Isabella Grace Lucarelli (9), Carlisle Patrick Lucarelli (5), Carter Gene Lappe (6), Harrison Beck Lappe (2), and Kamyah Jolyce Palmer (6); his niece, Kristine Kratz Patten and husband Charles B. Patten, their sons, Charles E. Patten, and Conrad W. Patten; his niece Courtney Kratz Young and husband Brad Young; his late brother’s wife, Peggy Bess Kratz, her daughter, Elizabeth Gorgas, husband Jason Mui, and daughter Harley Mui Gorgas.
He is also survived by his beloved rescue dogs, Blake, Rose, Connor and Stella. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother and his great-grandson, Zayden LaVar James. Memorial Services will be held Sunday, September 9, 2018 at 4 o’clock at 894 Ridge Road, Ridgeville, SC 29472.
Arrangements by Parks Funeral Home, 130 W. 1st North Street, Summerville, SC 29483.
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