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Colon Robert Kruger
June 27, 1948 - January 16, 2013
Tribute
Colon Robert Kruger, born June 27th, 1948 in Tisdale, SK, passed away peacefully on January 20th, 2013 at his home in Ladysmith, BC.Colon was predeceased by his father Hermann Kruger. He is survived by his brothers and sisters Gary, Jim, Nancy, Brian, Rick and Gail, and his mother Gwen, who all live in Saskatchewan and Alberta. He is lovingly remembered by his children Chris Kruger (Victoria BC), Kim Kruger (Auckland, New Zealand), and their mother, Barb Kruger (Duncan BC) – all who remained close in his life. Colon will also be fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews, many who live in Saskatchewan and Alberta though also internationally. Colon spent his early years with his many siblings in Hodgeville, Saskatchewan, where his family owned a grocery store. Colon was fond of sharing many funny stories of small town, rural Saskatchewan life from his childhood. He played many sports, as did all his family, especially baseball and hockey. Colon was very much the academic, he studied first at Lutheran College in Regina, then at McGill in Montreal, where he earned a B.A., before coming back to Saskatchewan and earning his teacher's certificate. Colon worked for over 30 years as a teacher, teaching Social Studies, English, and Math, mostly to junior high and high school students, first in Prince Albert, SK, then in Lloydminster, AB, and finally in Duncan, BC, where he retired in 2010.
Colon built, with the help of his brothers, a home in Lloydminster, AB, where his family lived for over 10 years and his children spent many of their formative years growing up. They were surrounded by a wonderful set of friends and neighbours, it was a true community where everyone knew everyone else on the block. He shared his passion for sports with his children; coaching his son's hockey team at least two different years, and seeing his daughter Kim through many years of dance. Colon moved to Ladysmith in 2001. He loved the nature surrounding him, and enjoyed walking regularly along the Holland Creek trail next to his house. In his retirement years, Colon reinvigorated his life-long association with sports and fitness, going to the gym at the community recreation center in Ladysmith daily. He also kept up his life-long passion of bridge, playing regularly at clubs in Nanaimo, Chemainus, and the area. In 2011, he had the pleasure of visiting his daughter Kim and her husband Jase in Auckland, New Zealand, where they own a number of sports nutrition stores. Colon hadn't traveled internationally since he was a young man in university, and thoroughly enjoyed spending time in New Zealand and visiting with his daughter and her husband. Colon was beginning to embrace his retirement; he was very active with his gym routine, walks, and playing bridge. He spent a wonderful week this past Christmas visiting with his son Chris, and provided a lot of support and help to Chris, who had recently broken his collarbone at the time. Colon's death was very unexpected; he deserved decades more life, doing the things he loved, on his own and with the people who loved him. He will be sorely missed. Donations can be made to the donor's choice of charity. One suggestion for donation is the donor's local SPCA; Colon had a fondness for animals, especially after bonding with the family dog, Macey, who he would often walk with (and later carry) on walks through his neighbourhood in Ladysmith and along Holland Trail.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday February 23rd at 2:00 pm at the Oceanfront Grand in Cowichan Bay, 1681 Cowichan Bay Road. Those that wish to remember Colon and support our family are welcome to attend.
Condolences
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From: H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre Staff
H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre Staff send our condolences to family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
From: Stephen emilio najera
Relation: Math teacher in cow high
My condelnces to the family of Mr. Kruger. I had math with him in my grade 12 year, but for both semester!
At first we didn’t see eye to eye, lol I was a slacker with a brain and he was determined to get me to use that brain.
I feel so blessed, and honoured to finish out my life in school with him as my teacher for such a hard class. He really helped formed my silly brain.
At th end of grade 12 students must have a sit down with a teacher of their choice to talk about “life” if you will and I asked Mr. Kruger if he would be mine, and he said of course!
We had one of the best conversations we’d ever had.
He was an awesome man. I’m so very sorry to hear the family as well as his students lost him.
From: Cody Gent
Relation: Teacher
Dear family of Mr Kruger, this man taught me all I know about social studies and history, and was the only reason I passed that class and probably why I graduated, I can’t tell you how sorry I am to hear of this great loss, he will be missed by all of his students at cowichan high and all others who he taught throughout his teaching career. Cody Gent
From: Penny and Vern Walleen
Relation: Grew up with in Hodgeville
Our condolences to the family of Colon and also to all his siblings whom I grew up with in Hodgeville. He was a very determined fellow as I recall in all the board games we used to play as kids and often came out the winner.I can see that that determination was there for his students as well. The college was fortunate to have him as a teacher.
He certainly was called away far to early and I know his loss will leave a void for you all. So I hope each of you will pulled from that special part of your heart the fond memories that will help you through this time of loss.Thinking of you all Penny and Vern
From: Martin Breuhan
Relation: colleague
Please accept my condolence. Colon was a fine colleague. We worked together at the Cowichan Adult Learning Centre and at the Cowichen Open Learning Cooperative. I always appreciated his student centred being and enjoyed his sense of humour. I am sorry that Colon did not have more time to travel and enjoy his family and freinds.
From: Connie (Scheller) Isley
Relation: From Hodgeville
My condolences to the Kruger family. It’s very sad to lose someone at such a young age.
From: Art Aronson
Relation: Student of his at Chemainus High
I would very much like to send my condolences to all of his family. I was very sorry to hear of Colon’s premature passing.
“Mr. Kruger,” as he was known to me at Chemainus High where he was my math, physical education, social studies and CAPP teacher in the 2001-2004 years. He was an excellent teacher and put everything he had into whatever subject we students were lucky to have him in. I personally loved our chats about all things life from ancient history to current professional sports. It was obvious he enjoyed all aspects of life, even teaching a bunch of brain dead, bratty kids. My best memory of Mr. Kruger had to be when he stepped up to coach the Chemainus Jr. Boys volleyball team when no one else would. We were a crappy team and he knew very little about Volleyball like us all but we still managed to field a decent team that went out to tournaments and competed.
I always said he had an underrated sense of humor and it seems I wasn’t the only that thought that in reading some of these nice notes. I am sorry to have missed his celebration of life as I did not hear of his passing until after the date. I am however, happy that I was notified and could write this note. As Mr. Kruger would always joke when the late smokers would always come into class right at bell, “Just in the nicotine, — I mean the nick of time!!”
I am very certain that many will miss him besides just his family as we all lucky to know him. RIP Mr. Kruger!
From: Joe Simpson
Relation: Taught with him in Lloydminster
I just found out about the passing of Colon. He was a great guy. What a sense of humour.
Service Schedule
Private service arrangements have been made.
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