Archie John Kroeger, 80, of Owatonna, formerly of Albert Lea, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at his home in Owatonna.

He was born Sept. 20, 1937, in New Richland, the son of Herbert and Leona (Simmons) Kroeger. He grew up in New Richland, where he graduated from high school in 1955. Following his schooling he worked at Weyerhaeuser, had a bread route, a milk route and began his career as a tool salesman with Lesota Tool until it closed. He continued selling tools as Archie’s Tool Sales on his own to farmers in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.

On July 14, 1958, he married Beverly Shank in Iowa Falls, Iowa. The couple lived most of their married life in Albert Lea until recently, when they moved to Owatonna.

Archie said he never worked a day in his life because he truly loved his job as a salesman. His honesty and trustworthiness endeared him to all of his customers. Everyone from the bank to the coffee shop knew Archie. He truly saw himself as a minister of God’s kingdom as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and shared his faith with everyone he met.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly Kroeger; daughters Audrey (Mark) Baumgartner of Farmington, Brenda (Dean Tlougan) Kroeger of Rochester and Rachel Kroeger of Owatonna; grandchildren Noah (Jenna) Baumgartner, Moses (Kelly) Baumgartner, Alexis Wilson, Chloe (Sweet Clover) Brua, Alexander (Emilee) Repke and London (Daniel) Wever; great-grandson, Joaquin Wilson; siblings Leonard (Paula) Kroeger, Carl (Maurice) Kroeger, Lois Olsen and Alice Bredlow; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Leona; and siblings Lloyd Kroeger, Dorothy Hellie and Rolland Kroeger.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. March 3 at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 800 Robinswood Place in Owatonna. A lunch reception will immediately follow the service and will be at Michaelson Funeral Home, 1930 Austin Road in Owatonna.