Dean L. Kruegel, age 90, died on Saturday, November 4 at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester of chronic kidney disease. Born on March 9, 1927, to Hubert A. Kruegel and Stella Harum Kruegel, he attended primary school in rural Carimona, Minn., and graduated from Preston High School in 1945. He served in the U.S. Army from June 1945 to February 1947, and spent a year with the 88th Division in Italy, attaining the rank of sergeant. He worked at Bach Music and Appliance in Rochester, Minn., from 1947-1950. On November 6, 1948, he married Marcelene Adair Kidd in Rochester. He received a BS in education from the University of Minnesota in June 1954 and taught history and social studies at Waseca High School in Waseca, Minn., from 1954-1959. In 1959, he and his family moved to Rochester, where he taught history and social studies at Central High School and Kellogg Junior High until his retirement in 1986. He received his master’s in history in 1968 from Mankato State University. He also worked part-time for Aldeen’s Men’s Wear in Rochester.
While in Rochester, he served on various church boards and as congregation president at Zumbro Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Rochester Junior Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Miss Rochester Pageant committee. He was also on the Samaritan Bethany Board of Directors for 11 years and a member of the Rochester BPOE.
After moving full-time to their home on Balsam Lake near Birchwood, Wis., in 1988, he served on the Trinity Lutheran Church council. He and Marcy spent winters at their home in Sun City, Ariz., where he served as an assisting minister at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church.
In November 2015, he moved to an independent apartment at Shorewood Senior Campus in Rochester.
He was a lifetime member of NEA, MEA, and BPOE, Rice Lake, Wis.
He is survived by three children: Kathy (Jim) Buzza, Sandy (Fred) Rios, and John (Jody) Kruegel; six grandsons: Aaron (Crystal) Buzza, Colin Buzza, Marco (Allison) Rios, Alex Rios, Jacob (Jennifer) Kruegel, and Joseph Kruegel; as well as two great-granddaughters, Avery and Abigail Buzza, and one great-grandson, Mason Rios.
Memorial service will be Saturday, November 18 at 11 a.m. at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Homes, Rochester, with visitation from 10-11 a.m. Inurnment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens, Rochester, Minn.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Samaritan Bethany, Inc., 24 8th St. NW, Rochester, Minn. 55901.
The family is assisted by Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, Minn. 55901, www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.
Kim Wentworth says
So sorry to hear of Dean’s passing, I just read it. I recall many stories that Dean and Art told of their growing up, family, and interesting neighbors. I hope all is well, notwithstanding, Deans passing. Both Dean and Marcy were outstanding people whom showed me caring and compassion thru my life. God Bless.