Obituary of Theodor Kroeger

Theodor "Ted" Kroeger, 80, of Dyersville, died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade of complications of Alzheimer's Disease. Friends may call from 2 - 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at the Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a parish scripture service will be held at 5 p.m., a Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. and an American Legion Service will be held at 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. Inurnment will be at St. Francis Cemetery. Ted was born Jan. 26, 1930, in Klein Berßen, Germany the son of Lambert and Helena (Bruns) Kröger. He followed his brother, Gary, to the United States when he was 23 years old and served in the Army from 1954 - 1956. He traveled back to Germany and met his future wife, Maria Düing, who joined Ted in the United States in 1957. They were married April 12, 1958, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. Together they made their home in Dyersville. After his service in the Army, Ted attended the American Institute of Technology in Des Moines, earning a degree in Audio/Visual Technology. He worked for Scherrman's Appliance for 17 years. He operated his own Magnavox dealership for 12 years. After he sold his building to the City of Dyersville, he worked for Western Dubuque Schools as an A/V Technician until retirement in 1999. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1734 and the 4th Degree Duborg Assembly, and American Legion Post 137. He is survived by his wife, Mary, 4 daughters and their families: Sharene (Doug) Drexler, Samantha, Benjamin and Shannon of Florence, WI, Margie (Dan) Walter, Joseph & son Isaac, Katy, Elizabeth (Trent) Scott, and Emily of West Des Moines, IA, Linda (Mike) Kroeger-Herman, Jacob and Philip of Manhattan, KS, and Joanne (Jack) Owen and daughters Michael and Morgan of Richardson, TX; brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Margarete Kröger of Klein Berßen, Germany and Vera Kroeger of Dyersville, IA, Gerhard Düing, Joseph (Ursula) Düing, Agnes (Helmut) Grawe, Heinrich (Margrete) Düing, Anna Düing, Helene Düing; and many nieces and nephews; He was preceded in death by his parents, 12 siblings: Heinrich, Wilhelm, Herman, Johann, Gerhard "Gary", Josef Kröger, Anna Kröger, Margarete (Johann) Wösthaus, Thekla (Heinrich) Neeland, and three in infancy; his parents-in-law, Josef and Agnes (Klene) Düing; 3 brothers-in-law: Bernhard, Franz and Herman Düing; and a 2 sisters-in-law: Rosa and Antonia Düing. Memorials are preferred to St. Francis Xavier Basilica, American Legion Post 137, or the Knights of Columbus Council 1734.