Russell Herman Krueger, 87, died Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016.
Russ was born June 29, 1929, to Herman and Bessie Mae Krueger in Hillsboro, Kansas. He was a student at Thorp No. 19 and Peabody schools and worked on the family farm between Peabody and Aulne, Kansas.
After he graduated Wichita East High in 1948, he served in the Navy as an air traffic controller during the Korean War. He was stationed in San Francisco, Hawaii, and Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
While in the Kwajalein control tower, he was eyewitness to the Castle Bravo test of the first hydrogen bomb and the United States’ largest nuclear detonation.
Russ graduated from Wichita State University in 1958 with a degree in geology. While at Wichita State, Russ met the love of his life, Ruth Patricia Foley. They were married July 27, 1957, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
Russ worked as a regional sales representative for utility pipe companies, including Johns Manville, Capco, and Carsonite. He was an avid classic car collector, Packard Club member, and dedicated volunteer for KSAWWA, Girl Scouts, Elks Club, the Class of 1948 East High reunion committee, and his church, where served as CYO advisor, finance committee member, Eucharistic minister, usher, and Serra Club of Wichita member.
A one-of-kind storyteller, Russ brought laughter and smiles to all he met with his witticism and ditties. His honesty, loyalty, and compassion were examples to many. He was a dedicated friend, surrogate father, devoted papa, uncle, brother, and best dad ever to his children and their friends. He was, most of all, a sweetheart to his true love Ruthie for 59 years.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth; children, Karen Haque and husband Gavin of Royal Oak, Michigan; Kathy Anderson and husband Kevin of Niagara Falls, Canada; Mary Krueger and husband Andres of New York, New York; Kristina Page and husband Joe of Springfield, Missouri, and Gretchen Mitchell and Kurt Krueger of Wichita, Kansas; sisters, Dorothy Brink of Andover, Kansas, and Bonnie Landrum and husband Leon of Big Cabin, Oklahoma; and grandchildren, Helen, Claire, and Alex Anderson, William Mitchell, and Wesley and Nathaniel Page.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bessie Mae and Herman Krueger.
Rosary was 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, with Funeral Mass 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, both at St. Francis of Assisi, 861 N. Socora, Wichita, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with Saint Francis of Assisi Church, and the organization that made it possible for his children to travel with him for a treatment study at the National Institutes of Health, the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 741, Danville CA 94526, www.lazarex.org, (925) 309-8664.
Online condolences may be left at www.zeinerfuneralhomes.com.