William Krueger

WILLIAM E. KRUEGER
1923 - 2014
Bill Krueger, (Lt. Colonel, USAF ret.), was born October 14, 1923 to Bill and Martha Leipske Krueger in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He spent his early years fishing and trapping along the shores of Lake Michigan, along with whatever chores were his responsibility as the oldest boy of six children. With his parents, he and his four sisters and one brother shared a two story house in South Milwaukee that had the best double hill in the front yard for sledding and general goofing around.
His high school years were spent playing football for South Milwaukee High School and working on his Uncle Henry's dairy farm. Upon graduation, Bill decided to enlist in what was then the Army/Air Corp, later the United States Air Force. He decided he wanted to fly, so he went to pilot training and officer candidate school and was off into "the wild blue yonder, climbing high into the sun." Throughout his life, Bill loved the Air Force, especially the 22 years he spent in it; he attended his fair share of Pilot Class of '44 reunions. Let the stories begin.
During high school he met the love of his life, June Marie Nelson. After Bill left for pilot training, they decided Bill being in South Carolina and June in South Milwaukee was too far apart, so they married in a small Episcopal chapel in Charleston, South Carolina on April 4, 1944. Bill went on to serve in World War II, flying B-17's that jammed radar. He had a few stories about those days. Following the war, he flew and was an instructor pilot for B-47's. Together June and Bill shared many adventures throughout their 54 years of marriage - from traveling in Europe when stationed overseas to traveling the United States - first in various station wagons during vacations and as the family moved from base to base and eventually in their RV's during retirement. Bill loved driving, and June loved navigating.
Longing to see his wife June, who had preceded him in death on January 19, 1998, Bill passed away Monday, February 24, 2014 at 90 years of age. During the declining years of his life, he was lovingly attended to by his daughter Kimberly who lived with him. His life was full of love, laughter, and family. The number of events he attended over the years, either alone or with his wife June, are too numerous to count, for both his children and grandchildren were all active people. Bill is survived by his children: Candice of Boise, Craig (Casey Blumenthal) of Helena, Montana, Scott J. (Brenda) of Boise, and Kimberly of Boise. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Katherine Krueger and Scott W. Krueger of Berkeley, California.
The family would like to thank the Boise VA for the care provided him in his declining years.
William (Bill) E. Krueger will be buried with full military honors at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise off Old Horseshoe Bend Road on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Bishop John Thornton, St. Michael's Cathedral. Friends of family and others who knew Bill are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Idaho Special Olympics in his name.