Roger Kruger
Roger C. Kruger, 83, of Waukon passed away June 8, 2026, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian. Funeral services were held Friday, June 12 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon with Pastor Duane Smith and Chaplin Doug Bryce officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.
Roger Conrad Kruger was born October 17, 1942, in Decorah, the son of Willard and Agnes (Fossum) Kruger. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon. Roger attended Bell country school from kindergarten through 8th grade, and graduated from Waukon High School in 1960.
Roger met Janet Bechtel at a dance one evening at Rainbow Gardens in Waterville, and later they were married, April 3, 1965, at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church. They were blessed with three children: Barb, Bev, and Brenda.
Roger was a lifelong farmer; he enjoyed farming with his dad and grandpa and helping other farm neighbors. He later proudly owned his own farm, Shady Grove Swiss, where he milked Brown Swiss and Holstein cows, raised pigs, and grew crops.
Roger was active with various church and community organizations and also enjoyed various part-time jobs throughout the years. After retiring from farming, Roger was a school bus driver for 27 years for Allamakee Community School District. He also was a member of Classic Rivers and Bluffs Tractor Club, where he proudly drove his Farmall Super H. Roger really enjoyed farm machinery as well, especially antique tractors and fixing them into workable condition.
He enjoyed going to antique farm sales, playing cards with family and friends, family get-togethers, traveling with his family, reading farm and history magazines, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed seeing the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. Roger lived a great life and touched the hearts of many with his kind and gentle spirit.
Roger is survived by his wife, Janet, of 61 years; his daughters: Barb (Ray) Kruger-LaBeau, Bev (Jeff) Meyer, and Brenda (Stan) Ancheta; his seven grandchildren: Justin, Sarah, Michael, Caleb and Luke Meyer, and Stanley and Grant Ancheta; five great-grandchildren: Kyleena, Kenalynn, and Jaxton Meyer, Briggs and Reese Meyer, and one more great-grandbaby on the way; his sister Carol Sivesind; two sisters-in-law, Linda Riek and Becky Avenenti; his brother-in-law Gordon Bechtel; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Willard and Agnes Kruger; two brothers-in-law, Frank Sivesind and Raymond Riek; his grandparents; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Honorary casketbearers were Frank Sivesind, Darryl Rud, and Doug Crary, who all preceded Roger in death, and Bob Erickson, Bob Fossum, Randy Kruger, Dan McAtee, Ron Opfer, and Roger Quandahl. Casketbearers were Roger’s grandchildren.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
