Sunday, July 26, 2026 ☀️ 90°F Ruskin, FL

← Obituaries

Carol Ann Kranz

December 16, 1936 –

Carol Ann Kranz
<a href="http://www.suncitycenterfuneralhome.com" target="_blank">Sun City Center Funeral Home</a>, Sun City Center, Fla. Phone 813-634-9900.

Carol Ann Kranz, 80, passed away in St. Petersburg, Fla. on December 17, 2016 from injuries sustained in an accident on October 8, 2016. Born December 16, 1936 in Buffalo (Riverside) N.Y. to her beloved parents, Blanche and Harold Stumm. Carol married her husband, Norman J. Kranz on December 28, 1960 at Riverside’s All Saints Church. She delivered their children Norman J. Kranz Jr. 1962, Cheryl Anne Kranz 1963 and John F. Kranz 1965, at Buffalo Deaconess Hospital. Carol was a loving mother and grandmother. She was devoted to her husband; she passed away 11 days shy of their 56th wedding anniversary.

While starting their family and residing in Riverside, Carol and Norm joined The Riverside Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce). They served as chairpersons of the 1967 Miss Buffalo Pageant, a preliminary to the Miss New York State and Miss America pageants. Carol accompanied (as chaperone) the reigning Miss Buffalo, Mary Ward of Alleghany, N.Y. to Oakland, California as the Buffalo Bill’s representative for the American Football League’s All-Star game January 21, 1967. When Karen Koegler of Clarence, N.Y. was crowned Miss Buffalo on April 15, 1967, Carol again served as chaperone for Miss Koegler to Olean, N.Y. in July for the Miss New York State pageant. In the late 1960s Carol was instrumental in forming The Riverside Athletic Club Ladies Auxiliary for the RAC members’ wives and/or girlfriends, while she served as charter president.

In the early 1970s when The Riverside Athletic Club sponsored The Connolly Cup, presented annually to the outstanding high school football player of Western New York, the RAC held their annual award ceremony to announce the recipient for that year. The RAC auxiliary handled the catering services for the 10 finalists, their parents and coaches at the then RAC Clubhouse, located at 820 Tonawan-da Street in Riverside.

In September 1972, Carol and family moved to Hamburg, N.Y. Not long after moving, Carol found employment as a school bus driver for Fisher Bus Service. An ideal job for a loving mother, as when school was out, Carol could be at home for their children’s wants and needs. Shortly after starting at Fisher, with the Fisher family blessing, Carol organized an annual school year-end luncheon for all the bus drivers and management. Carol drove for the Fisher Bus Service for 15 years, and that year-ending luncheon continues as of today.

She cherished family and friends gathering, especially during the holidays at their Hamburg residence. In 1998 Carol and Norm moved to Sun City Center, Florida. She enjoyed playing cards (euchre) and started golfing at the Kings Point Executive Course ladies league and she particularly enjoyed playing with the Darling Dozen group. She is so loved and will be greatly missed by her entire family and all who knew and loved her, for her tenacity and her beauty inside, as well as out.

Survived by her loving husband Norman J. Kranz; beloved sons Norman J. Kranz Jr. (Stacey), John F. Kranz (Sandi); beloved daughter Cheryl A. Kranz-Emerling (Todd); loving granddaughters Jessica Cruz (Cris), Ashley Schwab (Andrew), Brittany Emerling (Clint), Jordan I. Kranz, Justine C. Kranz; and loving cousins, nephews and niece.

A memorial service will be held at the South Town Christian Center, 6619 Southwestern Blvd., Lakeview, N.Y. 14085, this summer on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Our Lady of Victory, Father Baker’s Canalization at 767 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, N.Y. 14218. Arrangements by