Mr. Richard Clarence Kruger

Born November 11, 1927, in Portage, Wisconsin; died peacefully April 2, 2020, in Toronto, Ontario in his 93rd year. Richard spent two years in a general arts program at Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), then acquired a variety of practical skills in farming, construction, house painting, and radio and television repair before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. As a non-combatant medic, his natural leadership abilities soon led to the rank of sergeant in charge of surgery. These skills were later put to good use when he became an x-ray technician in 1955. This led him and his growing family from Illinois to the recently opened North York Branson Hospital in 1958. Again, his integrity, logical, intelligent mind, and natural aptitude for servant leadership earned the respect of his colleagues and led to his promotion to management in 1960. He enjoyed a 36-year career as technical director of medical imaging at Branson Hospital. Always up for a challenge, he enjoyed brain-twisting puzzles and games, fixing things, family road trips covering most of Canada and the USA, and golf. He was a loving and generous man who was devoted to God, to his family, and to his church. He is survived and deeply missed by his wife of 69 years, Iris Kruger; daughters Debra (Lawrence) Milne, Vicki (Charles) Mellish, and Lori (Cliff) Barnhart; grandchildren Ryan Kruger, Delaina (Jonathan) Jewkes, Tara (Brian) Jendzio, Crystal Milne, Troy (McKenzie) Wallace, Andrew Milne, Keleisha Wallace, Bradley (Christina) Milne, and great-grandchildren Jonah, Joshua, Sophie; Lana and James. He was preceded in death by his siblings Christine Schultz, Florence Kruger, and Irwin Kruger. A virtual memorial service will be held on April 12th at 3:30 PM EDT. If you wish to participate, please send your request to samsonmellish@gmail.com. Memorial donations may be made to ADRA at https://www.adra.ca/ or to the Willowdale Seventh-day Adventist Church Tuition Assistance Fund at https://willowdalechurch.ca/