Cover photo for Douglas  P. Krueger's Obituary
Douglas  P. Krueger Profile Photo
1948 Douglas 2018

Douglas P. Krueger

June 19, 1948 — July 7, 2018

Douglas P. Krueger, 70, beloved husband of Jan Fruin Krueger, of Portage went to the realm beyond on July 7, 2018.

The following history of Doug is in his own words. "He entered into this realm in 1948 in Pontiac, MI the son of Ronald J. Krueger and Genevieve Dodd Krueger. Shortly thereafter his family moved to Texas and Missouri due to father's job transfers with General Motors. However as a preschooler, he returned to his beloved Michigan. Lansing, Clio, Cassopolis, Mayville, Three Rivers, Traverse City, and Portage all were called home at one time or another. He graduated from Mayville High School in 1966.

From that humble farm community, he developed deep and abiding friendships and simple values which he cherished and which stood him in good stead all of his life. In 1971 he graduated from Western Michigan University. In 1973 he married Joan (Cutchall) Krueger, a relationship which blessed him with a daughter Katherine. Their marriage later ended in divorce in 1986.

Growing up around the small town lumber yards which his father managed set him up for a working career in various facets of building supply and construction business. Ultimately he became a loss control field rep in the commercial property insurance industry, retiring in 2011 from Verisk Analytics.

Appropriately on Valentine's Day 1987 he met a vivacious, pretty gal, Jan Fruin Rustenholtz at a dance. The story goes that Jan noticed Doug's exceptional dancing skills with another partner. She was determined to meet him and she cut in on his partner! Doug took notice and appreciated that she did that! They wed that fall on October 3.

With his daughter Katherine and Jan's three, Brett, Kipp, and Kelly, they ventured forth into the uncharted waters of a blended family. From then until his death, they shared the "City Farmer" Homestead in Portage. That included Jan's horses, organic gardening, watching wildlife, undertaking multiple construction projects and experiencing the joys and struggles of Michigan's changing seasons.

Many of their favorite times were spent in the great room he built in their home preparing feasts with Jan for friends and family. Doug built that great room with a dance floor that was for he and Jan to continue their dance on, which they did regularly!

During their 31 years together they shared trips to Europe and many in the lower 48. Despite the challenges of health and careers, they never tired of planning for the next trip or building alteration or addition.

Doug's interests ran the gamut: Outdoors-running, biking, fishing, hunting, camping, and canoeing; Construction-building, fixing, maintaining, and planning; yearly Krueger reunions; General- reading non-fiction/Alice Monro short stories and the like, following politics and serious and reasoned discussions with persons of any political stripe as long as they were capable of disagreeing without being disagreeable.

Doug enjoyed fishing trips to Canada with son-in-law Todd, grandsons Brian and Brennan, and friends Bernie Cheladyn and Patrick Quinn, and enjoyed canoeing and kayaking with good buddies Mark Hockmuth, Terry Tessorie, John, Roy, and Gary; and deer camp-hunting with nephew Clay Krueger.

He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and a brother David. He is survived by his wife Jan; brothers Ron Krueger and Warren (Joy) Krueger, and a sister Juli (Tom) Killman; his four children Kate (Giovanie) Torres, Kelly (Todd) Cheladyn, Brett (Amy) Rustenholtz, and Kipp Rustenholtz; grandchildren, Becca, Erick, Kierstyn, Brian, Brennan, and Rowan; sister-in-law Anne Fruin Kloack; nieces and nephews; and an abundance of lifelong and recently acquired friends. "

Doug's heartfelt love, exuberant laugh, and zest for life will be profoundly missed by all.

A memorial service to celebrate Doug's life will be held on Friday, July 27, at 2PM at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Marshall Chapel.

Doug enjoyed helping others right until the end when he became an organ and tissue donor. Those who wish to remember Doug may do so with a memorial contribution to Gift of Life Michigan (http://giftoflifefoundationmi.org/to-contribute/)

Doug's family wishes to express their gratitude to the Portage Fire Department Station 1 firefighters who worked hard to save Doug's life, Portage Police Officer Michael Slancik, who stayed with Jan until family arrived at the hospital, and the other good Samaritans who helped try to save Doug's life, and Bronson Hospital ICU Cardiac Unit, especially to Alesia.

Arrangements are by Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Marshall Chapel.

Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guest book atwww.kempffuneralhome.com

Memorial Service

JUL 27. 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EDT)

Marshall Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services
723 US HWY 27 North
Marshall, MI, 49068
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Douglas P. Krueger, please visit our flower store.

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