Memorial visitation for Gerald Lee “Jerry” Kruger, 79, of Wayne, will be held from 4 - 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 13 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Reception with family will be held at 6 p.m. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wayne.
Memorials may be made to the family for a later designation.
Jerry died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 at Kinship Pointe Assisted Living in Wayne.
Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements.
Gerald Lee “Jerry” Kruger was born Monday, Feb. 3, 1947 at the Lutheran Hospital in Norfolk to Max Herman and Betty Jane (Raubach) Kruger. He was baptized on March 2, 1947 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Winside and confirmed on May 4, 1962 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk and his confirmation verse was 1 Peter 5:7. Jerry attended grade school at Stanton County Country School District 26 Spring Branch. He graduated from Norfolk Senior High School in 1966. After high school Jerry then attended Nebraska Vocational Technical School later known as Milford Campus of Southeast Community College. His commencement was Tuesday, June 11, 1968 in Diesel Technology.
Jerry then moved to Wayne and worked for Orval Brandstetter at John Deere for two years. John Deere sold to new owner Gary Pick Logan Valley Implement and he worked there for eight years. Jerry started A&J Repair in May, 1978 with Alan Niemann south of Wayne until it was sold at auction in 1998. Jerry married Judy Bargholz on Saturday, June 19, 1982 at Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne, officiated by Rev. Thomas Mendenhall. In 2001, Jerry started Kruger’s Repair and he worked part-time for the City of Wayne working there for 10 years. While working for the City of Wayne, Jerry first worked at City Hall and Senior Center, then the street shop. He enjoyed being a mechanic and working on machinery, watching Westerns, collecting guns, pens, and pocket knives.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Kruger, of Wayne, daughter Anna (Benjamin) Bjorklund of Wayne, brother Dean (Angel) Kruger of Davao City, Philippines, sister Sandra Jacobi of Aurora, Colorado, sister-in-law Kathy Kruger of Elkhorn, sister-in-law Danna Kruger of Yankton, South Dakota, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Max Kruger on Dec. 30, 1989, mother Betty Jane Kruger on July 11, 2002, brother Lawrence E. Kruger on Feb. 25, 1984, and brother Roger Lynn Kruger on Dec. 23, 2009.
Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.
