John M. Kroft

John M. Kroft, 68, of Hillsgrove Township, passed away on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at The Gatehouse of Divine Providence Hospital. He was born on November 20, 1956, to the late John I. and Evelyn L. (Seitzer) Kroft.

He attended Jackson Elementary School, Roosevelt Junior High School, and Williamsport High School. After high school, he attended Penn State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. He later attended and received Master’s Degrees from the University of Rhode Island and the Army Command and General Staff College.

He served 25 years as a Naval Surface Warfare Officer, attaining the rank of Captain and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards) as well as numerous other individual and unit citations.

Following his retirement from the Navy, he joined the U.S. Department of State where he worked with numerous foreign governments and was awarded by the President of the Republican of Poland, Poland’s highest award given to a foreigner, the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit, making him a Knight of the Republic of Poland.

After 9-11, he began work for the Director of National Intelligence as the Deputy Director of the National Counterproliferation Center where he was promoted to the Senior National Intelligence Service (SNIS).

He is survived by his daughter, Ramsey E. Chalmers, two sisters, Gloria Powers and Candace Hodoba, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He had many good friends and family that supported and helped him through the later stages of his fight with cancer.

A memorial service will be held for close friends and family at his residence at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Knight-Confer Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be expressed on John’s memorial page at www.KnightConferFuneralHome.com.