Joe Wayne was a big part of the fun we had playing softball & flag football together. He was a good person.   Tim Warden

Will be raising a glass to you today, Sir.

Brenda & family - Joe Wayne was part of our best times when we lived in Houston.  We all played hard and cared for one another.  Joe Wayne was a good friend. Hope you all are doing well.  Tim & Karen

Joe Wayne was a good friend and a star baseball player that I will remember always.  You will be missed Joe Wayne

My condolences to the Kreger family. I remember first interviewing Joe over the phone for the sales position at Merfish until we made an appointment to do so in person. Joe was open and easy to visit with and in retrospect , that was how he presented when making a sale. He felt strongly about the relationship with his customers and he enjoyed working with them and established friendships that lasted throughout his career. After we sold the company in 2012 I seldom was at the office, but when I did drop by Joe made sure to pop out of his office to say hello and get caught up. Joe had a good sense of humor and enjoyed being the focus of the challenge “who can guess how many Hawaiian shirts Joe Kreger has?”  I can see his smile and that moustache move along with it. 



Joe was direct and honest with no hidden agenda so one always knew where you stood with him. He did not suffer fools gladly and made it a point to let them know. His customers always knew he would do whatever it took to take care of their needs. Joe’s long term customer relationships were legendary. His attention to detail made it easy for him to communicate with coworkers from Purchasing and other functional areas. I’ll always value my memories of working with Joe.

I have only known Joe for a short five years but he had a tremendous impact on me,....first as a competitor, then as a volunteer partner (Joe as President of the MGA, myself as the VP), then ultimately into a friendship.  The friendship grew with our spouses as well - Brenda and Kim.  Our last dinner with Joe and Brenda was on December 23 when we shared respective memories, blessings for our growing friendship, and optimism for the future.

Joe, you will be missed immensely, but never forgotten.  I feel blessed that our paths crossed and until we meet again,...
"Good drive, Joe"!

I do not have any pictures of my many times with Joe. But We are full of memories and laughs that will not fade.

Joe,
Rest In Peace brother.
I’ll always remember you as the toughest competitor at the course.  You beat me 3-0 in the 3 Ryder Cup matches in 2000.  
You will be missed.
Bob McCharen

To Grumpy. 
A man I meet 17 years ago and thought to myself, who is this guy. After getting to know Joe, he had turned out to be one hell of a guy. Not the best golfer, but one would never know listening to his stories. RIP my friend. God Speed. 

To the Kreger Family, So sorry for your loss. Joe Wayne was a good hard working - fun loving man that always had a big smile. I know you all will miss him.    John and Donna Buhler

I'm really going to miss Joe"Grumpy"Kreger! He was great to just shoot the crap with or talk about the golf round that day. He always tried to do the right thing in whatever the situation was. I always will miss the talks we had about life, etc..

My condolences to the Kreger family. It was a honor to know Joe. I considered him one of my best friends.  He loved his family very much and was very proud of them. He was a great competitor and I always enjoyed playing golf with him. I’m gonna miss him a lot but take solace in the fact that he’s not suffering anymore. 

Joe was a good one. Met him in '84 when he started working at N.Merfish Supply Co. We shared interests in the Astros and ZZ Top!
Gonna miss you.
-Scoop

Joe Wayne always had a smile under his moustache - we all had tons of fun both on and off the field. My sympathy to Brenda & the family. Joe will always be in my memories. Our Best - Tim & Karen Warden 

It’s hard not to get verklempt thinking about Joe .  There will be a hole where he was for a long time.   But I’m glad he’s not hurting any more.   
Joe was a good man.  He loved his family and his friends, and he’d do anything for them.  He loved to laugh and to compete.   He liked making plans and he loved to see a project through.   He spoke his truth, boldly, not foolishly.   He didn’t suffer fools, and while considering most PC concerns a croc, he knew when tact or silence was in order.    When he’d rant about the idiocy of one public figure or general manager or coach or another and make predictions about what their latest moves would lead to, time generally proved him right.  Joe was a golfer you could trust; he knew the rules and he followed them.  He appreciated the importance of respecting the game in any sport.  He loved a good casino too, and money wasn’t that important – it was just a way of keeping score.  The nickname “Grumpy” is a bit ironic, considering how much Joe liked to laugh and how much he appreciated a decent joke.   Last summer I made him the butt of a joke in an episode of Legends of the JMMGA.  He loved it and promised a payback prank was coming.   Well, now that payback will have to wait until we meet again.  Au revoir, Joe.  We miss you.


I had not seen JW in about 50 years until I ran into him at a funeral recently.  After that meeting I regretted not reconnecting sooner.  I have such fond memories of JW and Snook playing basketball at my house on the 8 ft. goals along with Kubiak, Johnston, Hill and many others. He was always so competitive and always so...much fun. Rest in peace JW.

Joe you were always so fun to be with! You will be missed by so, so many, God Bless.

Simply put…. Joe was one of the good ones in the world.  We miss him already.

Simply said …. Joe was one of the good ones out there.  We will miss him

Between 1973-1978 I seriously doubt there were another group of guys that spent more time together than our group of friends. Joe Wayne and six or seven guys either had lunch together, or met for happy hour together, or played softball & flag football together,  or went to concerts together, or 3 day camping trips together on the Guadalupe River, or birthdays together, or holidays together…than this group of guys. In all that time, not once was there an argument or a hassle between any of us, and we’re talking about  a VERY competitive group of guys!

As good as college was, experience and fun that it certainly was, it simply didn’t measure up to the good times those five years were.

Joe Wayne was right in the middle of it. We could honestly write a book about all the good times and laughs we shared.

Rest in peace, JW, and know that you were loved by many!

Tommy W.



To The Kreger family,
Mary and I are so sorry for your loss and wish you all the best. I have known Joe for a long time and will miss him dearly. He was a great friend. Please know that Mary and I are sorry but we will be gone out of town all next week and will miss his funeral. We send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
Joe and Mary Drumwright 

Joe fought like hell to stay with us. He loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved life. It was always neat to hear him talk with pride about his wife, children, and grandchildren and what they were doing and what they had accomplished. He loved being involved in their lives and always had a story about going to the country, going fishing, watching the Astros together, or planning their next adventure with them.

My pawpaw wasn’t always the easiest to agree on things just because we are both stubborn but I can for sure say he was the best grand father this girl could ever ask for. You were one of a kind pawpaw I will miss you always giving me advice on my horse or other animals or even the relationship advice he shared with me. Pawpaw I will make sure nanny is well taken care of and I’ll make sure Parker gets his powder donuts but I love you forever pawpaw

He was the best bonus Grandpa I could have ever asked for. He accepted me as his own and him and nanny always made me feel loved and cared for in their family. I will miss having him come in to the golf course snack counter and me having his Powerade and crackers ready for him. Then laughing and cutting up at stock shows. I will miss him very much and I will keep his granddaughters close to me and we will celebrate his life ❤️we love you PawPaw

One memory i want to share about Pawpaw is how loving and he always there from livestock shows to golf games to everything i will miss my Pawpaw so much.

OBITUARY

Joseph Wayne Kreger

14 December, 1950 – 9 February, 2022

Earthman Funeral Directors

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