Medford L. Krieger

1923 - 2012

BORN

1923

DIED

2012

Medford Krieger Obituary

(NEWS ARTICLE) Medford L. Krieger, a former Sylvania resident whose boxing skills in the Army during World War II led to special treatment as a driver for U.S. generals in London in the lead up to the Normandy invasion, died Tuesday at Clare Bridge senior community in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Mr. Krieger, 89, died of dementia, his son John said.

Mr. Krieger and his sons John and James built the first movie theater in Lambertville in 1973. The Jerry Lewis Cinema franchise at Secor and Sterns roads stayed in the family's hands until 1981, when it was sold. It closed in 1987.

Mr. Krieger was born in Adrian on Aug. 5, 1923, and moved to Sylvania at a young age, his son John said. He graduated from the former Burnham High School in 1942 and enlisted in the Army.

He was an infantry marksman who fought in the Normandy invasion in 1944 and in the Battle of the Bulge and in the Ardennes campaign in northern France, his son said.

He learned to box as a child. He and his brothers were given boxing gloves for Christmas by their father's employer. The siblings would box each other and anyone else who wanted to take them on, John said.

"Nobody at school would ever mess with them," said his daughter Paulette Balogh.

He honed his skills in the Army. "Because he was a boxer he got special treatment," said his son.

His boxing status led to a job in England driving U.S. generals to meetings in London for the planning of the D-Day invasion, son John said.

Mr. Krieger refused to teach his own sons to box, John Krieger said.

"Any discussion about him teaching us to box, he'd say, 'You need to work hard and go to school. You don't need to fight. If you fight someone and win, you lose a friend.'"

Two years ago, Mr. Krieger participated in an Honor Flight visit to the World War II memorial. His doctor ruled out flying because of a stroke risk, so after the breakfast for the participants, his sons John and James drove their father to Washington to join the group.

John Krieger said that trip helped his father open up about his experiences during the war.

Mr. Krieger owned a trucking business and a concrete business and usually held two jobs at once. He was a foreman for 20 years in the testing department at the General Motors transmission plant, now GM Powertrain, on Alexis Road. He went on disability in 1973, about two years after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor in his brain, his daughter said.

In 1971 he and his sons began building the Bedford Cinema after obtaining a franchise. He chose the Jerry Lewis franchise because it was family oriented, his son said.

"He always wanted to be in business for himself," John said.

It was during that time he developed the tumor and his sons took over construction. Several weeks after the operation, Mr. Krieger was back on the site, pouring concrete and laying bricks, his son said.

After selling the theater in 1981 he retired, and he and his wife, Phyllis, moved to Traverse City, Mich.

His brain tumor returned in 1995 and a second operation followed.

Despite the two tumors, partial paralysis in the face, and balance issues, he soldiered on in everything he did, his son John said. "He wasn't a complainer. He was a doer."

He returned to the Toledo area about five years ago when his wife of 59 years died, John said. He moved to suburban Detroit to be closer to his daughter Paulette.

Mr. Krieger is survived by sons John, James, and Samuel; daughters Patricia Whittman, Paulette Balogh, and Joan Vargas; 16 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his four brothers and a sister.

Visitation is to be 5 to 9 p.m. today at Reed Funeral Home, Sylvania, where the funeral is to be at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Memorials are suggested to Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio.

Contact Jim Sielicki at:[email protected],or 419-724-6050.

Published by The Blade on Oct. 1, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Medford Krieger

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10 Entries

Our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Dave has fond and loving memories of Uncle Med and he welcomed me when I married Dave. We are deeply sadden that we can not make it up to the viewing or funeral, but pease remember that you are all in our thoughts during this time. Uncle Med will be sadly missed. Keep the memories close to your heart and he will always be at your side!

Dave & Barb Krieger

October 2, 2012

My Grandfather's full name was Medford Leroy Krieger. I looked up the meanings of all three names and found out that it told a story. It says, "In the meadow where two rivers converge, there was a King, who was a mighty warrior." This truly sums him up.

Stefan Gearhart

October 1, 2012

My Grandfather, my hero, my strength, my courage, my disciplinarian, my boat Captain, my musician, my friend. You are ever the man I long to become. This unwielding strength of character, this resolve to love and survive, this courage to fight without raising a fist, and this peace to journey on. You and Grandma gave me a path to follow and I stuck with it. You showed me how magical movies were and how passionate the arts could become for me. You taught me how to find music in your heart and send it to the stars. You showed me that in this tumultuous life that sometimes you can find a moments serenity. For you, it was golf, it was fishing, it was boating, it was playing music, it was riding four wheelers, it was building, it was watching your children and your grandchildren grow into beautiful people. People you had a hand in shaping. I love you Grampa. Just listen for Grandma yelling, "FOOOOOOORD!", and you will find her waiting for you. Thank you for everything you did for me and gave me. Thank you for saving three small kids kids from a life of complication.

Stefan Gearhart

October 1, 2012

Grandpa,
Thank you so much for always being you. A strong man, kind heart, and enless love. You always continued to amaze me. Thank You---Tricia

September 30, 2012

Our prayers are with our nieces and nephews. You had a great father. He will truly be missed.
With our love,
Uncle Jim and Aunt Darlene

Jim and Darlene Slandzicki

September 29, 2012

My thoughts and prayers are with the Krieger family. I pray that God gives you peace as you draw close to Him and He draws close to you.

S Edwards

September 29, 2012

Love, Hope, Faith
I find peace knowing that you are shining down upon me keeping me safe and will continue to guide me as a young woman. Love you gramps

kimberly krieger

September 29, 2012

Paulette Balogh

September 29, 2012

Paulette Balogh

September 29, 2012

Paulette Balogh

September 29, 2012

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