Joachim H. Krueger

Joachim Hans Krueger of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away July 17, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife, Gisela Krueger of Council Bluffs, IA; sons, Frank Krueger (Barb) and Harry Krueger both of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter, Rita Snow (John) of Owatonna, Minnesota; grandsons, Nicholas Krueger (Kate) of Omaha, Christopher Krueger of Ft. Benning, Georgia and Timothy Krueger of Austin, Texas; granddaughters, Heidi (Snow) Andsager (John) and Erica (Snow) Jones (William) all of Omaha; great grandchildren, Liam and Nolan Andsager, Asher Jones and Theodore Krueger all of Omaha.

Joachim leaves behind many friends, he never met a person he didn’t like. He was preceded in death by his parents and many cherished friends and with his final reward he will be with them again.

He was born October 10, 1925 in Breslau, Germany. He was the only child to Frank and Erni Krueger. He was drafted into the German army during World War II where he served on the Eastern front and was wounded in battle. After being released from the army hospital after the war ended, he spent some time in a US POW camp. After his release, Joachim was a displaced person in the American Occupied Zone because his home city of Breslau was under Soviet control. After the war he worked a variety of jobs, as a painter in a convent and as a farmhand on several farms in and around Poing, Germany.
He adopted Kulmbach, Germany as his family home because his father, stepmother and siblings resided there after the war

In 1952, he immigrated to the United States and through sponsorship came to Nebraska. He first worked as a farmhand in the Gretna area, after that he worked other jobs including a cabinet shop and then packing plants in the Omaha area. Eventually he found construction work and became a mason and continued his career as a masonry contractor until his retirement.

He met Gisela Hellmerichs and married her in May of 1953. They celebrated their 66th anniversary this year. He was a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa from 1956 until the time of his death. He was an active member of the German American Society of Omaha, where he served various board positions. Through the German American Society he was a member of the Bears Club, Skat Club and was especially active with the Singing Wanderers mens’ singing group.

Funeral Service is Monday at 1:00 p.m. at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Interment is in the Ridgewood Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church or the German American Society.