Bruce Kruger

Bruce W. Kruger, age 61, died Thursday, September 23, at his home in Atwater following an eight year battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 PM on Sunday, September 26, at Peace Lutheran Church in New London. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday. Interment will be 10 AM Monday, September 27, at the Granite Falls Community Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Atwater Funeral Home.
Bruce was born January 23, 1949, in Minneapolis, to Walter and Clara (Haerle) Kruger. His early years were spent in Golden Valley and Excelsior where he attended Minnewashta and Excelsior Schools. When the family moved to Hanley Falls, Bruce excelled at Hanley Falls High School in basketball and football and began his career in music with playing the drums, and writing his first song with his brother Keith. Their band played all over southern Minnesota and the four state area during his high school years and while he was attending college at Marshall State University. His college degree in 1967 was in business and he successfully mixed a career in business with playing the piano, in bands, and writing his songs. He moved to Boston in search of places to perform up and down the East Coast where many of his early songs were inspired. Eastern Airlines gave him his first position and for 20 years, he was awarded many promotions and traveled worldwide. During his tenure at Eastern, he was assigned to Tampa, Florida where his met his second wife, Diana, and her 3 year old daughter, Natalie.
When Eastern Airlines closed, Bruce moved back to Minnesota with his family to their current home in Atwater, Minnesota. Here they spent 20 years, Bruce worked at IKON as a successful salesman and helping his family to manage the hobby farm. During this time, Bruce wrote songs, produced three CDs and performed widely. He submitted his songs and achieved recognition from the Nashville Song Writers' Association. His songs reflected the world's social issues, his fight against cancer and his love for his family.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Diana; daughter, Natalie Gray; his father, Walter; his brothers, Kenneth (and Patty) Kruger and Keith (and Suzanne) Kruger; his sister, Carolyn Kruger (and Wally Johnson); nieces and nephews, Eric, Mark, Laura, Joshua, Cresta, Alex, Carly and Grant; grand nieces and nephews, Zachary, Nicolas, Ayla and Christianne; and in-laws, Maxine Fitzgibbon and Carolyn and Tony Bond.
Bruce was preceded in death by his mother, Clara Kruger.