October 18, 1927 – February 16, 2025

Wally was born in Oakland, CA to Louis Krill and Agnes Fraser. The family moved during the WWII years from Alameda to Salt Lake City to Nevada City back to Alameda. Wally graduated from Nevada City Elementary 8th grade and attended Nevada City High School. His grandfather Charlie Tyhurst worked in the Murchie Mine and his grandmother Sylvia Fraser Tyhurst owned the Rainbow Café in Nevada City. He finished high school in Alameda. On his 18th birthday he enlisted with the US Navy and was assigned to a ship in San Diego when the war ended, Wally returned to Alameda and met the love of his life Mary Lemmons on a blind date,,,that is when their 77 years of adventures began.

Wally’s insurance career began in 1948 in San Francisco working for the Aetna Fire Insurance Company before transferring to Kirkland, Washington, then Great Falls, Montana and then to Sacramento where he became Branch Manager. When an opportunity to leave the corporate world and join Curnow-Halls Insurance Agency in Nevada City 1969, the Krills made their last move! With Wally’s energy and guidance the agency grew to be the most dominant insurance brokerage in our region, Gold Cities Insurance. Wally was involved in Nevada City Rotary, Eastern Star, Elks, Native Sons of the Golden West, the Nevada City Council and more.

When he wasn’t working, he and Mary loved to travel in their RV, ride their tandem bike around the world and spend time with their friends and family. Their children all married and raised their families in the community. Wally will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Mary, sons Mike (Suzie), Roger (Jan) and daughter Kathy McColl(Mike…deceased); eight grandchildren: Jenn, Kim (Justin) Milbauer, Matt, Craig McColl, Brian McColl, Laurie, Wendy (Chuck) Holding, Jonathan and ten great grandchildren.

Plans are underway with Hooper and Weaver Mortuary for a family gravesite service and a Celebration of Life in the near future. Wally and Mary were very involved with FARA (Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance) and in lieu of flowers they would appreciate donations to https://curefa.org/donate.