Klaus J. Krueger (Buffalo)'s Obituary
Klaus-Juergen Krueger was born March 29, 1935, in Halle/Saale, Germany to Kurt Kruger and Irmgard Sickert. He passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, in Buffalo, Missouri.
He was a survivor of World War II, as his hometown was bombed by American forces close to the end of the war. At the age of 22, after attending his sister's wedding, he went through the wall to West Germany to play a soccer game. Since he had been leaving and returning after each game and had a pass, he was allowed through, but this time he didn't return home. He went to Bremen where he worked in a shipyard. In October 1958 he emigrated to Raytown, Missouri with the help of his cousin Leni who found a sponsor for his airline ticket and a job with Best Tool Mfg. He arrived in the United States with the clothes on his back and a small suitcase.
He married Karen Suzanna Hathaway at St. Patrick's church in Kansas City, Kansas on June 20, 1964.
He became an American citizen in 1969. After the wall came down in late 1989, he made many trips back to visit his family in Germany.
He was employed by Best Tool Mfg. in Kansas City for 19 years and Hayes Wheels in Sedalia for 20 years; while employed with Hayes, he lived and worked in the Czech Republic for two years supervising the wheel line of their European plant.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Helga and his in-laws. He's survived by his wife Karen; son Kurt Krueger of Deltona FL; daughter Christina Krueger (Jeremy Smith) of Roca, NE, granddaughter Kelsey Breza (Brett) of Watford City, ND and grandson Nathan Gaukel, Omaha, NE, great-grandson William Koehler, great-granddaughter Kinsley, brother Gerald Riebenstahl and wife Rosie of Niederzier, Germany; brother-in-law Dieter Liebe of Oppin, Germany; a niece and two nephews in Germany and cousin Dagmar Swanson of Naples, FL.
Graveside services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near Urbana, Missouri.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cantlon-Otterness & Viets, Buffalo, Missouri.
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