Ronald J Kruger

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege with Pastor Jan Gluth King officiating.

On June 3rd, 2025, Ronald James Kruger, of rural Holdrege, Nebraska, heard his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ call his name and departed this earthly life at the age of 70.

Ronald was born on November 18, 1954 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Geraldine E. (Betteen) and Donald O. Kruger.  He was the second eldest son of six children:  David, Ronald, Kenneth, Gary, and twins Karyn and Sharyn.  While the family moved several times during his early childhood, living in Minnesota and South Dakota, Ron's fondest memories were of their time in Huron, South Dakota.  He spoke often of the adventures he and his siblings had and of fishing with his good friend Martin.  Ron graduated from Huron Senior High School in 1974.

Ronald was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, Minnesota, on April 10, 1955.  Years later, while attending a Christian Church youth camp, Ron made the choice to recommit his life to Christ and was baptized a second time by immersion.  He would joke that he loved his Lord so much, he'd been baptized twice.

Ron heard the call to ministry and attended Dakota Bible College in Huron, South Dakota and later, Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk, Nebraska. While he never became a pastor for the greater world, he was a minister to his family and anyone he met, sharing Jesus with love and devotion.

After his family moved to Kearney, Nebraska, Ron would regularly go roller skating at the local roller rink.  And that is where Rhonda Jane Winz, born November 18, 1958, while skating with college friends at the same rink, fell down.  And Ron helped her up.

Identical initials and birthdays?  Rhonda thought she'd heard the least creative pick-up line in history.  Then she met Geraldine (Ron's mother), who fell in love with Rhonda immediately.  She confirmed that Ron did in fact have the same birthday and initials and was not just really bad at talking to girls.

Ronald and Rhonda were united in marriage on June 2, 1984. They moved to rural Holdrege and were blessed beyond measure by the birth of Rebekah Jane on January 25, 1990, the child for whom they had prayed.  She was and always will be, Ron's precious Little Lamb. He loved her kind, gentle, guileless heart and sweet spirit, and her abiding love for her cats.  Then came Andrew Michael, born on February 22, 1993, whom Ron called his Little Tank.  Andrew did not sit still one moment as a child and could power through nearly anything with a bright, undaunted courage and joyful spirit which remain to this day.  After Rebekah and Andrew were born, Ron and Rhonda did not think they could have more children.  God had other plans.  Sarah Rachel was born early, on October 31, 1994 - and was not very happy about it.  Ron called her his Little Surprise Blessing.  Sarah did not get to sleep as long as she wanted and even as a baby, was still ticked off about this and would sleep at any and all opportunities (and still will).  Ron marveled at her creativity and artistic talents, her kind spirit, and her willingness to share the gospel.

Ron worked many jobs over the years but his "career" was always a father and provider.  He enjoyed his years working at Mosaic and Mid-Nebraska Individual Services the most, where he could love and care for God's children with special needs.

He liked old cars of the 1950's and 1960's and acquired several cars in his early life.  He always dreamed of restoring one or two of them so that he could drive them, but he gladly sacrificed that desire, placing the needs of his family first.  He also enjoyed model railroading and had a small layout which he enjoyed operating with his children when they were young.

Ron loved his Lord and Savior more than anything, he loved his family second and he loved God's people third.  Every morning he would pray for Sarah before she went to work.  Every morning he would want to see what she was wearing and tell her how pretty she was (I will never call myself fat again).  He would say how proud he was of his big, strong son Andrew and how precious Rebekah was to him.  And oh how he loved Rhonda.  No matter the struggles or hardships over the years, love abided and upheld.

Ronald's greatest joy was serving his Lord.  After a difficult hospital stay many years ago, on Christmas Eve, they happened to be driving past Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege.  Ron, remembering his mother and the Lutheran church, was called to go to that candlelight service. He never looked back and attended Bethel ever since.

Ron found fulfillment and joy in serving his church and loving his church family.  Bethel was his home.  Ron served on several committees, helping wherever he could, but he was most proud of his part in the choir.  Ron sang in the choir for many years and was blessed to be able to offer his voice in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.  The parable about the widow who could give very little, but whose gift was great in the sight of the Lord, fit Ron perfectly.

Ronald loved his life with Rhonda and his kids.  He helped Rhonda with her garden, even if all he could do was sit with her while she worked; he was always there to encourage and uphold.  He played many games with his kids, Mario Party and Animal Crossing and any card game or board game they could gather around.  UNO was perhaps his best game and to the family's amazement, Ron almost always won.  Ronald really liked Tootsie Pops, so much so that Rhonda started buying them in bulk.  He was always so happy to offer one to anyone who wanted a snack.  He loved his brothers and sisters and prayed daily for his entire family, for God's blessing and protection.

Ron spoke many times of how thankful he was that one spring, many years ago, God planted a single cottonwood seed in the yard which grew into a beautiful tree.  That tree became his personal sanctuary, where he would daily sit beneath its branches, watch the sunset, and talk with his Lord.

And there is a small accounting of a life, words on a page, but how can we stop there?

What can I say about my dad?

By the world's standards, he had nothing. No great career, no grand accomplishments, no accumulation of wealth and renown.  My dad was a nobody, insignificant to the world.

But he was not insignificant to Jesus.

Jesus is everything to him; his portion, his strength, his purpose and life.  Ron had nothing by the world's standards.  But by God's measure, he had extraordinary treasure and was himself treasured beyond measure.  May we all measure blessings this way and give thanks and see that all good and beautiful things are from God.

He spoke often about his "Heavenly Father" and would bring Jesus up in nearly every conversation, even with total strangers.  If asked how he was doing, even on a bad day of aches and pains, he would always say "Oh, okay. Just walking with my Heavenly Father."  In his later years, his focus shifted to a steady forward movement towards heaven.  He grew closer and closer to God, knowing, perhaps, that Jesus' call would come soon.

He lived as Jesus would have him live.  Not without flaws, not without sin, but with the loving, forgiving, steadfast heart of Jesus and the joy of knowing the reward which awaited him.

We know that all who have fallen asleep in Christ are not gone; death has no hold but a temporary pause over the physical body that our Lord will resurrect in glory.  Death can not hold what Jesus has said is His, bought with His blood.

My Dad is alive, and will live forever, through the grace of Jesus Christ, His atoning sacrifice on the cross, His victory over sin and death, and His glorious resurrection.

What can I say about my dad?

Let me tell you about Jesus:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

Ronald was preceded to heaven by his mother and father, Geraldine and Donald Kruger; his mother-in-law Mary and father-in-law Harold (Mike) Winz; his brother David; sister-in-law Charlene; niece Diana; and Ron's four children, named and taken home by God before their earthly births.

Still awaiting the call of Jesus on earth are Ron's wife, Rhonda and his three children, Rebekah, Andrew and Sarah; his brothers Kenneth and wife Ethel; Gary and wife Lynn; his sisters Karyn and husband, Bob Meyer; and Sharyn Neben; brother-in-law Kelly Winz; sister-in-law Alice Kruger; along with nieces, nephews, and friends; and his lifelong friends Martin Ames and Greg Dunning, whom he also counted as family.

Expressions of sympathy may be mailed to the Kruger Family at P.O. Box 552 in Holdrege NE, 68949.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.