Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at Concordia Lutheran Church in Clearwater with Pastor Daniel Feusse, Officiating. Burial will be in Clearwater Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 2, 2017 at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater. William H. Jr. passed away Friday, September 29, 2017 at his home. Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.snidermemorialfh.com
William Henry Kruger, Jr. was born August 7, 1926 to William Sr. and Flora (Mueller) Kruger at Tilden, NE. He was baptized in Tilden, NE and was confirmed April 13, 1941 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Clearwater, NE.
He moved with his family to Clearwater at the age of four where he attended school and graduated in 1944. After graduation he joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned duty on the U.S.S. Chub Submarine serving in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Upon arriving home from the service he ran a produce truck and worked at a service station for Alva Smith. He then purchased his own fuel delivery truck and ran it until 1949.
On June 4, 1950 he married Alys Stelling at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Orchard, NE. He farmed with his father-in-law until the tornado in 1965 destroyed their family home and farm buildings. They then moved north of Clearwater where they built a new home and dairy barn. The dairy operation continued until 2003. Bill stayed involved with the farming operation until the time of his death.
Bill served as president of the congregation at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Orchard, NE and served on the Clearwater School Board.
His passion was fishing. He also enjoyed sudoku puzzles and a good game of gin rummy.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; son Michael; son-in-law Rick Hesse; grandsons Andrew Bolling and Wade Sullivan; step great grandson Justin Jonas; sister Bonnie Maulding; and brothers Robert and Donald.
Survivors include his wife Alys; daughters Janette (Charlie) Allemang of Clearwater, Karla (Boyd) Sullivan of Omaha, Kimberly Hesse of Valentine; daughter-in-law Peg (Jan) McKillip of Kearney; sons William Kruger III and special friend Jeanette Bearinger and Kenneth Kruger all of Clearwater. Seventeen grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; and 5 great-great grandchildren. Sisters; Ruth Prater, Carol Ann (Bill) Timm, brother; John (Dorothea) Kruger and brother-in-law Don Maulding along with numerous extended family and friends.