Wayne Virgil Kroeger, 87, of Nokomis, died at 7:39 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at Nokomis Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Funeral services will be held Monday, May 11, 2015 at 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nokomis. Pastor Bert Eickoff will officiate. Visitation will be Monday from 1 until service time in the church. Burial will be in Nokomis Cemetery. Stiehl-Dawson Funeral Home in Nokomis is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kroeger was born April 11, 1928, in Dysart, IA, to Emil and Alice (Berry) Kroeger, the second oldest of three brothers and three sisters. He attended Toledo, IA country school, Tama, IA, junior high and graduated from Tama High School in 1947. He played four years of high school football.
After graduation he joined the Navy Seabees and was sent to boot camp in San Diego and surveyor school at Port Hueneme, CA. He spent 27 months on Guam, also Ulithi surveying the island, at Japan, Okinawa and Korea. He also played two years service football. He was discharged at Treasure Island, CA, in June 1952 with the rank Surveyor Constructionman (SVCN).
He worked at the Tolego Canning Factory until fall when he enrolled at Simpson College at Indianola, IA. In college he played four years of football and one year of baseball.
He married Marjorie Emerson on Aug. 2, 1953, at the United Brethren Church in Toledo, IA. Twin daughters, Vickie and Christy, were born in 1954; Christy lived two and a half days. A son, Bill, was also born while they lived in Indianola in 1956. Mr. Kroeger's summers were spent working construction.
He graduated from Simpson College with a BA degree in physical education and minor in business and in June 1956 moved to Stuart, IA, where he taught biology, world history and American history. He also was assistant football coach from 1956-58, assistant basketball coach in 1956, girls basketball coach from 1957-58, and baseball coach from 1957-59.
A son, Rick, was born in 1958 while the family lived in Stuart, IA.
The summer of 1959 the family lived in DeKalb while Mr. Kroeger went to summer school. In August they moved to Nokomis where he was employed by the Nokomis School District. He first taught chemistry, physical science and earth science, and coached football. He was junior high principal from 1969-79, later athletic director, and retired in May 1990. A daughter, Sandy was born in 1963.
He also attended college during the summer at Vermillion, SD, where he received his M.N.S. in 1969. He took classes at Edwardsville and at Steamboat Springs, CO.
An avid sportsman, he coached little league baseball, umpired high school baseball, and refereed high school boys basketball. He refereed football for 35 years, including the last two years in championship playoff games.
He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, took long trips with his son and brother and later his wife, taking Sunday and evening rides, trips to Iowa, Florida, Colorado, and etc.
After he retired they traveled to England, France, Germany, and Austria. In Munich, Germany he met his cousin for the first time. They went abroad several other times. They went to Hawaii and also took an Alaskan cruise with friends.
Missing the school kids, he took a job as bus driver from 1990-99. He especially enjoyed driving the bus for girls sports with his granddaughter participating, and bringing home two high school girls state champion teams. For several years after retiring full time, he subbed when needed.
His retirement was spent helping his kids and grandkids whenever he was needed. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, golfing, hunting and enjoyed his family and traveling. He enjoyed watching his great-grandchildren playing sports.
He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.
He is survived by daughters Vickie (Tom) Detmers and Sandy (John) Charnisky; sons Bill Kroeger and Rick Kroeger; grandchildren Kris (Erica) Detmers, Erin (J.J.) Sabol, Rachelle (Craig) Reincke, Josh, Christy (Chris) Boggs and Broc Kroeger; great-grandkids, Reid, Drew and Parker Detmers, Brayden, Carter, Audrey and Alivia Sabol, Krayton and Kip Reincke, and Stella Boggs; sisters Shirley Taylor, Betty Brubaker Price, Phyllis Dauma; and a brother, Butch Kroeger.
In addition to his parents and infant twin daughter Christy, he was preceded in death by two brothers.
Memorials to may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Montgomery County Cancer Association.
