Reverend Richard A. Krugler of Rochester Hills, MI, entered eternal life surrounded by family on September 2, 2019 at the age of 93. A faithful servant of God, he was born in Chicago, IL to William and Florence (Erber) Krugler where he pursued a faith-based education from an early age starting at Tabor Lutheran School in Chicago, IL and continuing on to Concordia College in Milwaukee, WI. He completed his first vicarage at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Huntington Station, NY and a second at Immanuel Lutheran School in Wakefield, Nebraska. In 1949 he graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO as an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Inspired by a slide presentation at his church by a missionary in Nigeria, he achieved a life-long dream by accepting a call as a missionary and traveled to Nigeria with his wife, the former Edith Kleim in 1949, where he served for 10 years. After Edith was called home to heaven in 1958, he answered a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Reed City, MI.
In 1960, he married the former Mildred (Worner) Hilst and served the church, school and community for 31 years. During that time he established Grace Lutheran Church in Baldwin MI, helped launch and serve on the board of directors for LBT (Lutheran Bible Translators), and held various offices in the LCMS Michigan District and other community organizations.
After the Lord called Mildred home in 1985, he married the former Ruth (Schroeder) Lail in 1990 and moved to Vancouver, WA, to enjoy a life of retirement and continue his service on a part-time basis with several LCMS churches including Memorial Lutheran Church. He and Ruth also worked with Laborers for Christ and Habitat for Humanity and enjoyed traveling across the world to visit family. Following Ruth’s passing in 2000, Richard relocated to Rochester Hills, MI in 2008 and remained active with the LCMS and LBT organizations.
Rev. Krugler is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved three wives, his sister Leona (Jack) Davis, brothers Bill (Ethel) Krugler, Emil (Lilly) Krugler, and Arnold (Marge) Krugler, and step son Chistopher Lail. He is survived by his sister Ruth (Roy) Brockopp, his nine children, Jean Vahey, John (Sandy) Krugler, Steven Krugler, Ronald (Ruth) Krugler, Barbara (Hugh) Muellenhagen, Shari Krugler, Theodore (Robin) Krugler, Charles Krugler, and Thomas (Lisa) Krugler, step-children; Cheryl Lail, Terry (Cyndy) Lail, Cindy (Paul) Linnemann, Becky (Steve) Eaton, and Ted (Sarah) Lail. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester, MI on Friday September 6, 2019 from 2-8pm. Funeral Services will be held at St. John Lutheran Church in Rochester, MI on Saturday September 7 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Trinity Lutheran School Building Fund located at 19778 U.S. Highway 10 Reed City, MI 49677.
