Laszlo “Leslie” Krug, age 91 years, of Raritan Township, NJ, died peacefully on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, NJ.

Born on May 6, 1932 in Herend, Hungary, son of the late Ignacz and Maria Eckkert Krug, Leslie was raised in Hungary and emigrated to the United States on February 14, 1957, settling in Union, NJ. He had reside in Raritan Township since 1989.

A man of strong moral conviction, Leslie was a hard worker and always followed his moral compass. A “Freedom Fighter” in the Hungarian Revolution, he lived his life helping others and sponsored many people coming from Europe in search of a better life in the United States. He gave them jobs and helped them settle in a new land, asking only that they do the same for others when they were able.

With a work ethic that was grounded in learning, he was a talented machinist and owned and operated Krug Industries, a screw machine shop, in Springfield, NJ, for many years, only retiring in 2017. He was a master of his craft, and was the one many turned to for issues that needed his insight and expertise.

After coming to the United States, Leslie attended an airshow which ignited a passion for flying. It was in July 1981, that he, along with co-pilot Zsigmond Nemeth, took off from Newfoundland in a Beechcraft single engine V-35 Bonanza and eighteen and a half hours later landed in Budapest to commemorate the anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution. Setting records, the pair were met by numerous government officials marking their success.

It was more than forty years ago, though, that Leslie’s world would change dramatically when he was at the Deutsche Club in Clark, NJ, and met a young widow, Margarete. Asking her to dance, the pair knew that they were destined to be together and with Leslie’s daughter, Judith, and Margarete’s children, Cynthia and Paul, a new family was formed.

Margarete and Leslie would be joined at the hip, loving and supporting one another on every level. With Parkinson’s Disease affecting Leslie over the past several years, Margarete rallied around him, attended to his every need, and ensured that he lived every day with dignity and respect. Their love and devotion to one another-right up until Leslie’s last breath-is an inspiration to all who knew them.

Preceded in death by his parents, a sister, and a brother, Leslie is survived by his wife, Margarete Schulze Krug; his daughter, Judith Krug; his step-daughter, Cynthia and her husband, Jeffrey Manno; his step-son, Paul and his wife, Hieka Wiese; his grandchildren, Berek, Julia, Zoe, and Alex; a great grandchild, Atlas; his sister-in-law, Marianne Laurenti; his devoted mini-schnauzer, Herbi; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Leslie’s life on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Life celebration services, officiated by Deacon Bob Gurske, will follow the gathering on Saturday, May 6, 2023, beginning at 11:30 a.m., at the funeral home and to which all are welcome.

A luncheon at Al Fresco, 100 Reaville Avenue, Flemington, NJ, will follow the service and again, all are welcome and encouraged to join in a time of refreshments and celebration of a truly wonderful human.

Interment services officiated by Deacon Robert Gurske were private at Hollywood Memorial Park, Union, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Leslie’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in his honor and memory may be made to SPCA International, via mail to P.O. Box 8682, New York, NY 10001, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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