Funeral services for William E. Kruger, 86, will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Conger. The Rev. Daphne Hamborg will officiate. Interment will be in the Conger Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

William Emil Kruger, 86, of Conger, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2014, a fitting day to be free from his 3 1/2 month illness. He was born Oct. 30, 1927, in East Chain Township, Martin County, the son of Raymond and Esther (Bremer) Kruger. William attended school in Grenada and Rose Creek. He married Genevieve Chapek on June 20, 1954, at Oakland Lutheran Church and resided in Albert Lea.

In 1962 William and Genevieve moved to rural Conger. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Conger. He was on the building committee, church council and rang the church bell for many years. He enjoyed being part of the congregation and spent many hours lovingly tending the church flower beds.

William was truly a family man and devoted husband and father who always willing helped whenever possible. He had great joy in sharing his home-grown vegetables and fruit to his family and friends. The “kraut” he made was a family favorite. During the winter months he found enjoyment in putting together jigsaw puzzles and framing them to display proudly around his home. He truly enjoyed visiting with people and always had a joke to share.

At a very young age, William worked for a vegetable farmer in Hollandale. He worked at Queen of Stoves, Albert Lea, Ver-Dik, Conger, and farmed south of Conger until 1976. He then worked at Bridon-Cordage until his retirement in 1992.

He is survived by four children, Ronald Kruger and wife Jane of Conger, Debra Mortensen and husband, Benjamin, of Albert Lea, Robert Kruger and wife, Shari, of Lonsdale and Katherine Kruger and Leo Lastovica of Little Elm, Texas; grandchildren: Kelly (Kruger) and husband, Matt Watkins, of Conger; Amanda Kruger of Delano, Paige and Logan Kruger of Lonsdale; Great-granddaughter Shelby Watkins of Conger; sisters: Lois Chapek, Albert Lea, LaVonne Froiland, Oakland, Helen Pearson, Owatonna; brother Harold Kruger and wife, Charlene, of Oakland; sisters-in-laws Louise Peterson of Blooming Prairie, Joyce Petersen of Albert Lea and Joyce Chapek, Albert Lea; aunt Lucille Neusch, Fairmont, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Genevieve Kruger; parents; sister Delores Wood; brothers-in-law Wayne Wood, Kermit Froiland, Arthur Chapek, Alvin Chapek and Richard Peterson; nephews Stephen Froiland, John Wood, Randy Chapek, Andy Chapek and Gary Peterson; and niece Pamela Peterson.

William will be missed dearly by his family and friends. Blessed be his memory.