Obit: Krueger, LeRoy A. M.D. (1933 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Goebel, Gustafson, Krueger, Rustad, Stevens

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 09/19/2013

Krueger, LeRoy A. M.D. (27 SEP 1933 - 5 SEP 2013)

LeRoy A. Krueger, M.D., slipped into the arms of his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on September 5, 2013, 22 days short of his 80th birthday, at his home, surrounded by his family.

He was born on September 27, 1933 in Westboro, the son of the late Frank and Marie Krueger.

LeRoy graduated from Medford High School in 1951. He attended Taylor County Teacher's College and taught all eight grades in a one room school house. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison pre-med for three years and was accepted into medical school a year early.

During his first year of medical school, he cared for a paraplegic for 60 hours a week. While in medical school, he split his second year to do research with Professor Herron. He graduated from medical school in May of 1964. He did a residency of pathology in clinical as well as anatomical pathology.

LeRoy was a captain in the Army during the Vietnam War and practiced as a pathologist and emergency room physician at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was a physician for 48 years and only missed six days of work during that time. He was also the director of the Lincoln County blood bank for many years. He was on the hospital board at Good Samaritan, as well as other hospitals. LeRoy put on 6,000 to 7,000 miles a month going to small hospitals to diagnose specimens for surgeons and doing autopsies. He went to Medford, Merrill, Waupaca, Clintonville, Shawano, Antigo, Rhinelander, Wausau North, Wausau South and Aspirus Hospital.

In later years, he worked in Medford and Merrill primarily. You may have not known, he diagnosed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of diseases, and through his knowledge saved many lives in the north central Wisconsin area, retiring at the age of 77.

One of the greatest joys was to have high school students come to the hospital for the career internship program. He would have them observe his pathology practice and explained how he looked at slides under his microscope and diagnosed various diseases. He received letters from former students stating that they had gone on to college and chose a medical career for their profession.

He was a Sunday school teacher for adults, as well as teaching three to four year olds using puppets. He was a youth director for the Evangelical Free Church in Madison during his residency. He was a Gideon, handing out New Testaments and sharing Christ with anyone who would listen. LeRoy had Bible studies for the inmates at Marathon County Jail. He cared about the inmates and wanted to guide them not only on spiritual matters but also developing skills for their future. One inmate asked LeRoy, "How many times have you read your Bible?" He replied, "60 or 70 times."

He started Merrill Bible Church in 1978 and gathered nine others to help him. He guided many home Bible studies and cared enough to visit people in their homes to encourage them and pray with them. He cherished his Bible and his favorite Old Testament book was Job, and his New Testament was John. One of his favorite verses was Romans 10:9, If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and trust in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

The most important things in LeRoy's life were God, family and he was a great outdoorsman. He was a member of the NRA and also the Lincoln County Sports Club.

Leroy's family included his wife, Pauline of 53 years, and seven children, Sophia (Jim) Rustad, William (Ulla) Stevens, Matthew (Shari) Krueger, Mark Krueger, Michelle Krueger and Miriam Gustafson.

He was preceded in death by Reggie Goebel. He also had six grandchildren, Kyle, Brandon, Maria, Kitara, Micah, Jacob and Gabi.

A remembrance of LeRoy's life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. at Merrill Bible Church, 508 Eugene St., Merrill. A meal will be provided after the service. Mid-Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed at www.jjbfh.com.