Gene Krueger

A funeral service for Gene Krueger, 73 of Spirit Lake, Iowa, will be held Monday, July 25, 2016 at 10:30 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Burial will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery, Spirit Lake. A visitation with family present from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. will take place on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Spirit Lake Music Boosters. Gene Karl Krueger, the son of Ruth Mahnke and Julius Krueger, was born May 25, 1943, in Vallejo, California. After graduating from Climbing Hill High School, Gene received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of South Dakota. On August 15, 1965, Gene was married to Kathleen Marie (Tabke) at Climbing Hill Baptist Church in Climbing Hill, Iowa. Gene began his life's work as an Instrumental Music Teacher in Centerville, South Dakota, and then was the Band Director for the Pride of the Dutchmen Band for the Maurice-Orange City Community Schools until 1973. One of the many highlights of his band-directing career was taking the band to the Indianapolis 500. In 1973 he began farming and operating a commercial cattle feedlot in Orange City, Iowa, called K-4 Feedlots. He loved the life of planting, harvesting, and working with livestock. In 1985 Gene and Kathy moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa, and purchased Acorn Ridge Campground on East Lake Okoboji. He also worked for the Job Training Partnership Act in Spencer, Iowa. His next adventure was to be Camp Manager at the United Methodist Church Camp on West Okoboji and was on staff at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. He received great joy serving as the Choir Director at the Methodist Church and most recently at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. In 1993 Gene began a construction company- "Gene Krueger Construction," which he owned and operated until the time of his death. He took great pride in his business and enjoyed working with his employees, customers, and business associates in the Iowa Great Lakes Area. Gene always put his heart and soul into every aspect of his life. Some of Gene's greatest joys in life were his family, the church, and his involvement in countless church and community musical productions. He volunteered his time as auctioneer at various charity auctions and fundraising events in the Iowa Great Lakes Area. He developed a Model "O" Gauge train layout in his home depicting his hometown of Climbing Hill, Iowa. He loved sharing his trains and stories with others. Gene was in the first class of the University of Okoboji Winter Games Cheerleaders, and he was proud to call Okoboji his home for many years. Gene was a helper to so many people, more than we'll ever know. He believed in doing good. Good thoughts, good words, good character, and good deeds. He was a living example of "Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You." He will live on in our hearts forever. Gene attended First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, and was a member of the Northwest Iowa Home Builders Association and the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (music fraternity). Gene passed away July 20, 2016 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at seventy-three years of age. He is survived by his wife of fifty years, Kathy; daughter, Sara (Pete) Laven; son, Jim (Leia) Krueger; grandchildren, Lauren and Jackson Laven; sisters, Mary Lou (Terry) Petersen, JoAnn (Doug) Williams and Shirley (Larry) DeBuse; brother-in-law, Dean (Jan) Tabke; many nieces, nephews and his miniature schnauzer, Penny. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Ruth Krueger and his brother, John Karl Krueger.