David "Dave" Kruger
David “Dave” Steven Kruger, 63, of Waukon passed away peacefully September 30, 2024, at his home. A celebration of life will be held Friday, October 4 from 4-7 p.m. at Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Road, Waukon.
Dave was born in February 1961 to Ben and Joan (Helming) Kruger in Waukon. He was baptized and later confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in Waukon. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1979, and in 1986, he met his future bride, Pam, at Glenwood Lutheran Church while singing in a wedding. They were married in 1988 and that same year took over the family Brown Swiss cattle dairy farm, Stormy View Farm.
In 1996, he gained his coaching authorization and started coaching for the City of Waukon, eventually moving to Junior High and High School coaching in multiple sports. The players he coached were always treated as family, and the joy he felt watching their growth was evident to all he talked with. In 2011, he and Pam opened Empty Nest Winery and he retired from coaching the following year to focus on the business.
In 2022, after two years of unanswered questions and tests, he was diagnosed with ALS. He continued to fight and enjoy life through the end, especially finding joy in the beaches of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, the sunshine on his family farm, and the conversations with and watching his kids and grandkids.
Dave is survived by his wife of 36 years, Pam; his four children, Kyle (Jamie) Halse, Kristen (Jerome) Nelson, Nick (Katie) Kruger, and Brittany (Austin) Maine; his father-in-law, Ray Kvamme; his brother, Ken (Kristen) Kruger; his brother-in-law, Greg Northcutt; and his grandkids, Keeran, Kade, Henry, Emmett, Sonoma, Maddelyn, and Ella.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Joan Kruger; his mother-in-law, Phyllis Kvamme; and his sister, Wendy Northcutt.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the Iowa ALS foundation at https://www.als.org/support/states/iowa. Condolences may be left online at IowaCremation.com under “Obituaries” or sent to The Kruger Family C/O Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Rd, Waukon, IA 52172.
