Lonnie Krueger
Lonnie Dean Krueger died Feb. 22, 2023, and passed peacefully into the arms of his loving Savior, Jesus Christ, at his home with his loving wife by his side, after a courageous five-year battle with cancer.
Lonnie was the third child of four born to Burdet and Joyce (Rodeman) Krueger in Akron on Dec. 20, 1956. When he was an infant, the family moved to their home in Amherst, where he and his siblings, cousins and friends enjoyed so many adventures and fun memories together. He attended grade school in Amherst until its closing and then attended school in Holyoke for junior high and high school.
Following high school, he married Shirley (Lininger) in 1975. They were blessed with two children, Christopher in July of 1977 and Sara in April of 1982.
Lonnie began working at PC Telcom in April of 1977, where he remained for 40 years until retiring in December 2016. He and Shirley later separated. A few years later, he met and married Lynn (Boerner) in July 2007, with that marriage adding her three children.
Lonnie loved everything outdoors. He loved spending time with family and friends, doing everything including golfing, boating, camping, fishing, canoeing, hunting, hiking, bike riding, exploring nature in every way, campfires, stargazing, sunrises and sunsets.
After his diagnosis with cancer, he became even more fervent about bike riding and exploring every bike path along the Front Range, with Lynn and sometimes son Chris by his side. He also became very passionate about his prairie dog hunts with good friend Mark, sometimes accompanied by Chris and nephew Trent. With the goal of exterminating every town possible, this was a great and fun pastime for him toward the end.
Above everything else in his blessed life, Lonnie would want everyone to know of his great love for Jesus, and he was very passionate in sharing this love. This was what gave him such peace in his final days — saying there are better places to be and “I just want to go home and be with the Lord.”
For many years and in all kinds of weather, he would leave early in the morning while it was still dark and go out on what he called his “walks with the Lord.” While walking and waiting for the sun to rise, he poured his heart out to the Lord, praying for each and every sibling, child, grandchild, niece and nephew and their families one by one. Lonnie had a deep love and desire for each one of them to know how precious this gift is.
He carried in his pocket for over 10 years a card that said, “Jesus, I Trust in You.” This card never left his pocket except maybe getting washed a time or two. It was taped several times and was well worn because he didn’t want a new one. It went with him while working, on every adventure, every doctor’s appointment. Everywhere he went, he was reminded that Jesus was with him.
Lonnie had such a great love for his family, children and grandchildren.
Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents Burdet and Joyce Krueger, nephews Michael Krueger and Paul Krueger, son-in-law Jace Harris, and numerous aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his wife Lynn of Haxtun; son Christopher of Haxtun; daughter Sara Fournier and grandson Jordan of Windsor; stepchildren Bryce and Lindsay Boerner and grandchildren Jayce, Mason and Kelbin of Haxtun, Tyler and Kassie Thieszen and grandchildren Layla and Lydia of McCook, Nebraska, and Josh and Jeni Larson and grandchildren Waylyn, Newt and Delmer of Haxtun; siblings Niles and Maggie Krueger and niece Felicity of Columbia, Kentucky, Cheryl Rundall of Holyoke, and Mark and Tami Harshbarger of Holyoke and nephews Trent and Melisa Harshbarger of Imperial, Nebraska, and Lucas Harshbarger and fiancee Jennifer of Gillette, Wyoming; Lynn’s family, parents, siblings and numerous nieces and nephews; and good friends Neil Schauland, Alan Krueger, Kent Krueger and Mark Harshbarger.
The rosary service was held Feb. 28 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Fleming. Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s.
Baucke Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.