Jessica Pamela "Pam" (Jenkins) Krupicka

Jessica Pamela “Pam” Krupicka, 98, of Waco, Texas, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 17, 2024. 

Pam was born on December 28,1925, in Butte, Montana, to Edward and Marie Jenkins. Edward worked for the Montana Standard Newspaper after a short stint working in a nearby mine. 

Pam grew up in Butte with her sister Thai, where both eventually graduated from Butte High School. After graduating high school, Pam trained for the Weather Bureau in Seattle, Washington and was stationed in Medford, Oregon where she met Adolph John “Tex” Krupicka who was stationed there with the Army Air Corps. Tex would meet her every day on the truck to the airport and never missed a day..

On February 17, 1945 she married Tex in Medford. As a military wife, Pam moved with Tex to Miami Beach, Florida where she assisted the military men coming back stateside from the war. Tex grew up on the family farm in Buckholts, Texas and wanted to be back in Texas with his brother Alvin, so they moved back to Waco, Texas in 1946, where Tex worked for Central Freight. After moving the Andersons into their house, Fred Anderson offered Tex a job at Smoot-Anderson Plumbing, where he worked for many years. Tex and his father built their house on Gorman Street in Waco, with plumbing of course from Smoot-Anderson. Pam worked at Smoot-Anderson in the office for 12 years, until being offered a job at Zales as office manager.

Fred Anderson eventually recruited Tex into the Masons, which eventually led him to the Karem Shriners. Pam was a member of the Merak Temple, Daughters of the Nile and Eastern Star. She enjoyed dancing and attending Shrine events with her beloved husband, Tex. To all of her grandchildren, she’ll be remembered as Gaga

Pam was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sisters, and a grandchild. 

She is survived by her children, Sandy Stephens and husband, Ron of Irving, Texas and Julie Rice and husband, Andy of Abilene, Texas; 5 grandchildren: Shawn and Shane Stephens and Andrew and Stephanie Rice and Amy Butler; 11 great-grandchildren: Hannah and Rebekah Stephens; Hope Stephens; Colton and Brooklyn Burtch; Zachary, Christopher and Evelyn Rice

Mackenzie, Macie and Jordan Taylor; and 1 great-great grandchild: Parker Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Scottish Rite for Children Hospital in Dallas. https://scottishriteforchildren.org/