Thomas "Tom" Philip Kruger

Thomas (Tom) Phillip Kruger, 68, of Grand Island, died on Monday, October 21, 2024 at Grand Island Regional Medical Center, with his wife by his side. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 10:30 am, at Third City Christian Church in Grand Island. Reverend Scott Jones will officiate. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 27th from 5-7 pm, also at the church. A private burial will be at the Grand Island Veteran’s Cemetery at a later date. All Faiths Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.giallfaiths.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family who will forward to the Shelton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. Tom left a lot of boxes checked for all whom were lucky to have known him. As a student, athlete, farmworker, soldier, sportsman, teacher, coach, school administrator, and author, but most importantly, friend, husband, father, and grandpa, he shared his love of family, duty, and country for all to see. Thomas Phillip Kruger was born August 13, 1956 in the hospital at Yankton, South Dakota, to Bob and Joanne (Angus) Kruger. Tom went to elementary school at Saint Ludgers Academy in Creighton, NE. He received his first communion and was confirmed in the Catholic faith and was a proud St. Ludgers Comet. Tom’s father worked for Consumers/NPPD and the family moved in 1986 to Shelton, NE, where he attended school for 7th- 12th grade. Tom graduated with the class of 1974. Always proud of his Bulldog roots, Tom enjoyed going to school. He was Student Council President and Homecoming King. He played football and was a state champion wrestler. Tom’s fondest memory of his Senior year was representing Shelton at the NE State wrestling tournament when the team finished second place and losing only by one point. Tom had a great experience working in high school and through college at Gangwish Farm and Grain Elevator and Gangwish Seed Farm. He loved the hard work and meeting all of the farmers while dumping their grain. He often commented that every other truck was a veteran of wars from WWII to Vietnam. This was the start of his interviews of America’s Gallant men. After receiving a scholarship for wrestling, football and ROTC, he entered Kearney State College. He wrestled and also played football and ROTC all four years. Tom received an Education degree in History. When he left his senior year, the football team was ranked 4th in the nation and Tom was an All-American wrestler. In ROTC, he was awarded the distinguished Military Graduate Award and was commissioned a second Lieutenant in the US Army armor branch (Tank). He entered the US Army at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. After his service at Ft. Knox and graduating from Armor Officer Basic Course, he returned to Nebraska to teach and coach. Tom’s first job in education was at St. Paul Schools teaching history and government. He coached wrestling and was an assistant football coach. In 1988, Tom’s young family moved to Lexington for teaching and coaching. After he earned his Master’s in Administration Degree, he later became the Principal at Lexington Senior High School and then Assistant Principal at Grand Island Senior High School. Tom met Ronda in class at Kearney. He said she took good notes and that was his best excuse to spend extra time with his classmate. Tom and Ronda dated for the last two years of college. Tom always said, “college was the best job he ever had.” But the best thing about college was Ronda. Tom married Ronda (Ernst) in Aurora on August 7, 1982. The couple was blessed with three sons, Heath, Cole, and Tad. They raised the boys in St. Paul, Lexington, and Grand Island. Not only was Ronda a great elementary teacher, but an even better mother. Tom gave Ronda all the credit for raising the boys. He was often gone weekends and summers with Army Guard training or schools. Tom took a break from education to work on his second career in 1985 for a return back to active duty in the army at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Ronda followed him as he attended the Advanced Armor Officer School. After returning, Captain Kruger commanded Company B 1-195th Armor company in Lexington, NE from 1985-1989. Tom retired at a major from the Guard/ Army Reserves as an operations officer for the 195th armor battalion. Tom cherished his time and the soldiers that he got to work with during his military career. He credited it for giving him color and character to his life and access to military history documents and interviews with the veterans he met. If you want to learn history, do it from a tank turret outside a thousand-year- old village in Germany, on ground that our fathers fought and died on. Tom was always proud of his soldiers. Tom had many notable achievements, honors, and awards in his life: Being inducted into the UNK Athletic Hall of Fame for wrestling and football; Lifetime member of the American Legion; and Knighted to the Order of St. George for honorable service to armor and cavalry units. Mr. Kruger planned and carried out over fifteen trips to Washington, D.C., with high school seniors from St. Paul, Lexington, and Grand Island, all trips were by bus, including sack lunches. The first trip cost $175, for a week, per student. He worked hard to keep a low cost so nearly all students went. Gettysburg Battlefield was always his favorite location. Another educational experience was he started and planned annual Veterans Parades on Veterans Day, up to the VA home in Grand Island. We marched with 3,000 middle and high school students to honor the “Gallant Men and Women of the Armed Services.” After retiring from education, Tom coauthored a book, “Cornhuskers Go to War” plus wrote other publications. Tom’s favorite hobbies included; spending time at the cabin at Harlan County Reservoir with family and friends fishing for walleye; time spent at “Deer Camp” with his brother Al at the Duck Inn Cabin on the Platte River (established 1929) where they hunted white tailed deer; great memories hunting pheasants, around Shelton and later hunting with his best pheasant hunting dog, a pointing black lab named Yukon; known for his cooking, especially for big family holiday meals, he always believed “the more the better.” At this time of grief, Tom wants us to remember and celebrate his life well lived and his enduring commitment to family and country. He was preceded in death by his father, Bob Kruger; mother, JoAnne Campbell; and sister, Letha Brooks. Tom leaves his wife, Ronda; sons, Heath (Sydney) of Omaha, Cole of Kilgore, TX, and Tad (Brooke) of Ord. Grandchildren, Nash, Willa, and August Kruger of Ord and Josie Kruger of Omaha. His brother, Alan (Carol) of Hastings; sister, Crystal Gangwish of Shelton; and a host of family, friends, teammates, and former players.

Thomas "Tom" Philip Kruger

August 13, 1956 - October 21, 2024

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Thomas "Tom" Philip Kruger

August 13, 1956 - October 21, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

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Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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