July 18, 1928 – November 5, 2020
The family of Herb Kreuger is deeply saddened to announce his peaceful passing on November 5, 2020, in Winnipeg MB.
Herb was born on the family farm at Duck Lake, Sask. on July 18, 1928. His parents, Emma Tadei and Herman Kreuger, were farmers. He had two older brothers, Allan and Walter and a younger brother Glenn. Herb was the one most often found helping his mom in the kitchen. He joined the Boy Scouts and remained active as a leader for many years.
He left the family farm to work for the Bank of Nova Scotia in Saskatoon. There, on a blind date, he met and a short time later married Denise Lussier of Arborfield on June 24, 1950. With his job at the bank, he was often transferred to small locations throughout Saskatchewan. The family grew to include six children. Later Herb joined Lutheran Brotherhood to sell life insurance which took the family to Winnipeg, Man. The next move was their big move north to Thompson, Man.
In Thompson, Herb worked for Lockers Insurance and later with partner Jim Bartlett opened a new company K.B. Insurance Services Ltd. which continues to operate today under the ownership of Brian and Sherrie Kreuger. Herb was very involved in the community particularly with the Lions Club and Lutheran Church. He was often called upon to be the Grand Marshall for the annual parade in that city. The north provided an abundance of new activities for the family with camping, sailing, and fishing. They made many lifelong friends, playing bridge and taking in social events. Most famously, for years they hosted an annual New Years Eve Party at their home on Sauger Crescent.
In retirement, Herb and Denise relocated to Stonewall MB in 1988. They loved to garden, entertain family, watch their grandchildren grow, and continue to contribute to the community. With Denise’s declining health, life slowed down, he was her faithful caregiver accompanying her to appointments with numerous doctors and treatments until she passed away in 2010. Herb continued to live in the little house on the farm acreage. He was known as an avid Crib player, read newspapers thoroughly and spent hours clipping articles to pass on to whoever he thought would benefit.
He loved to check his mail at the post office both for receiving and mailing. He loved being outdoors, watching the birds and wildlife that visited the yard, playing with his numerous cats, walking his successive Sheba dogs, tending his abundant garden, making jams, pies and specialty items like elephant ears and monster cookies for the grandkids. Birthdays were always special occasions at the farm.
He loved to cook and entertain and go to ball or hockey games. He faithfully watched the Blue Jays and Winnipeg Jets or Bombers (and Sask Roughriders when they played) and San Francisco 49ers. He loved using the computer so he could keep in touch with family and friends. He was immensely proud of his entire family and their successes in life and work.
Herb’s health started to fail a few short years ago. When he no longer could live independently, he moved first to an assisted living and most recently The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg. Thank you to the staff there for their excellent care and concern in the past year particularly in this most difficult time.
Herb leaves to mourn his six children sons Donald (Cathy), Kent (Merla and her children Ben (Melissa) and their children Max and Frankie, and Corey), Syd (Diane and her children Ray (Jennifer) children Logan and James) and Jason (Tracy) and daughter Willow, Grant (Lori), Brian (Sherrie) and his beloved daughter and primary caregiver Barbara (Bob Balfour). His 14 grandchildren Stephen (Terri-Lynn), Jordan (Lyndsay), Darren (Brigitte), Ryan, Todd (Shahin), Andrew (Stephanie), Michael, Matthew (Sarah), Shawn (Dayna), Sherise (Dylan), Jayson, Michele (Aaron), Robyn (Daniel), Jesse (Christine), and great-grandchildren Clarissa, Quinn, Orrin, Adeline, Owen and two new ones will join the family in 2021.
Herb’s usual sign off for his e-mails and letters was “Live the Life You Love; Love the Life You Live.”
A Celebration of Life is being planned for a future date at Stonewall MB.
Donations in Herb’s memory may be made to The Convalescent Home of Winnipeg, 276 Hugo St. N. Winnipeg MB R3M 2N6.
