Walter R. Krzastek

Walter R. Krzastek, 78, of Lanoka Harbor, died on September 13, 2024. A lifelong Jersey resident, Walt spent years in Northvale raising his family with his wife Carolyn, before moving to the shore in Lanoka Harbor in 2014. Walt was an Engineer by trade.  He specialized in estimating the costs to build powerplants worldwide, was granted top secret security clearance at Los Alamos, and worked for years at Burns & Roe before eventually opening his own cost estimation company – Cost Plus Consulting.  He proudly served his country in the Army National Guards, and helped subdue the 1969 riots in the streets of Newark with the Reserves. Walt was truly passionate about horse racing.  He was often seen with racing forms and calculators strewn across the dining room table, calculating the odds by considering everything from the weather, track condition, and racing history of the horses.  Christmas Eve parties with the family were a particular highlight where he remained undefeated in the annual hot sauce eating contest.  He also loved boating, March Madness trips to Vegas with the Wolfpack, Giants game tailgates, horseradish on everything, and gardening - nobody left his house without a cardboard box full of vegetables. Next time you are at the Captain’s Inn in Forked River, order yourself a dozen oysters with fresh horseradish and hot sauce in his honor. 

Walt is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 56 years; four children, Walter Jr. and his wife Laura, Lisa Stretton and her husband John, Stephen and his wife Donna and JeeNa Krzastek-Kim and her husband David; nine grandchildren who affectionately called him “Grappa” or “Papagiorgio,” Will, Ryan, John, Kyle, Colin, Stephen Jr., Conner, Chloe, and Lyla, and his two sisters, Irene Callahan and Debra Krzastek.

Visiting hours will be offered on Monday, Sept. 16th from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm, at the Mastapeter Memorial Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville. Funeral Tuesday, 9:30am at the funeral home before leaving to celebrate an 11am Mass at St. Barnabas Church in Bayville. Burial will follow to Ocean County Memorial Park, 1722 Silverton Rd., Toms River. In lieu of flowers, donations in Walter’s memory to: St. Barnabas Church, 33 Woodland Rd., Bayville NJ 08721, would be appreciated.

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