Walter’s Obituary WALTER HEINRICH KROEGER, age 93, passed away December 8th, 2018 at Manor Court in Freeport, IL. Walter was born on November 27, 1925, the son of Otto and Lora (Haberkamp) Kroeger in Dupage County Hospital in Elmhurst, IL. He grew up on his family’s dairy farm and attended schools in Schaumburg, Rodenburg and Elgin, IL.
After high school, he stayed home to help his father on the farm but always worked hard to stay informed and had a thirst for knowledge. He married Virgene (Jean) Schaeffer on March 22, 1952 in Elgin. Walter and Jean had two sons, Steve and Craig.
Jean passed away to be with the Lord on June 30, 2000. Walter served in the US Army from September 1954 to September 1956, in Battery B 802nd Field Artillery Battalion stationed in Neu Ulm, Germany where he set-up maps and fire direction. After his Army service, he worked for several construction trucking companies in the Chicago area and built up a stake to go farming.
He was a dairy farmer near Union, IL for several years and in March 1966 moved his family to the dairy farm he purchased just east of Freeport in Silver Creek Township. In the mid 1970’s he converted the dairy operation into a beef and grain farm. He continued farming until his retirement in 1995.
Walter and Jean enjoyed visiting with family and friends, playing Pinochle and Euchre and traveling. They visited several states and Canada and also spent a few weeks in Germany in 1998 visiting their son Craig and family. While there they ventured to Alten Ebstorf in northern Germany and saw the original Kroeger homestead with the family name still written above the front door.
Walter and Jean especially enjoyed time spent with his sister Helen and her husband Martin. Walter was proud to attend his sons’ and all of his grandchildren’s graduation from college as he held education as a top priority. Walter was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Freeport, where he served as trustee, elder, school board member, church council and other committees over the years.
He also served several terms as Silver Creek Township Supervisor and as Trustee for the Township and several terms on the Stephenson County Board. He was a Golden Harvest seed representative for over 25 years, and he served on the IL Mutual Insurance Co. Board of Directors. Upon retiring from farming he was a driver for several of the local auto dealers.
He is survived by his sons, Steve (Marlene) of Freeport and Craig (Betsy) of Baileyville, his four grandchildren, Andrea (Gustave) Ahrens of Bedford, NY, Luke (Julie) Kroeger of Cedar Falls, IA, Emily Kroeger of Chicago, IL and Amy (Kyle) Dornink of Rock City, IL, and his six great grandchildren Mackenzie and Barrett Ahrens of Bedford, NY, Nora, Evelyn, and Otto Kroeger of Cedar Falls, IA, and Alaina Dornink of Rock City, IL. He is also survived by his sister, Helen Mueller of Lena, IL and sister-in-law Lois Schaeffer of Moline, IL along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brothers-in-law Martin Mueller and Robert Schaeffer.
Walter’s family would like to thank the staff at Oakley Courts, at Manor Court and FHN Hospice for their care and support. Visitation will be held at Walker Mortuary on Friday, December 14th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. Funeral services will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport on Saturday, December 15t at 10:30am with Rev.
Dr. Willis Schwichtenberg and Rev. Mark Winkelman presiding. There will also be a visitation prior to the funeral service from 9:00am to 10:00am.
Interment will be at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Freeport. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Lutheran “Introspect “Radio Ministry and FHN Hospice.
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