Robert John Krueger's Obituary
Robert "Bob" J. Krueger celebrated the New Year in heaven after courageously battling acute myeloid leukemia for 19 months. He died at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids on January 1, 2023. Bob lived in Big Rapids from 1975 until August 2022 when he and his wife Beth moved to Grand Rapids.
He was born on April 15, 1948, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, fueling a lifelong love of the outdoors, fishing, German beer, and Usinger's sausage. After graduation from Wauwatosa West High School, Bob attended the University of Connecticut, where he met and married the love of his life, Beth Lindberg, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy in 1971. Following their June 1971 wedding, Bob and Beth moved to Iowa where he received a PhD from the University of Iowa in Pharmacognosy. In 1975 he began his teaching career at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan where he and Beth lived for 42 years raising their two daughters and becoming deeply involved in the community. Bob retired from Ferris State University in Dec 2011 as a full Professor.
Bob was a renaissance man who appreciated gourmet cooking, traveling, art, nature, science, politics, and a good joke. He was a voracious reader and appreciated many literature genres such as mysteries, myths, poetry and mycology. Bob had a whimsical sense of humor and an infectious laugh which allowed him to connect with people of all ages. He loved spending time in nature and his many interests included gardening, plant propagation, herbal medicine and teas, birding, and Michigan weather. His love of nature deeply influenced the lives of his two daughters whose careers focus on the protection of our natural resources. Bob was truly a gifted baker and known for his numerous cookies he created each holiday season. Though grounded in a small town, Bob and Beth explored the world through travel and hosting international visitors to their community. They maintain a second home in Ocean Park, Maine where they spent summers and vacations.
Bob took great pride in his public service to the community of Big Rapids. He was elected to Big Rapids Board of Education and was involved in the passage of the millage proposal to build the new high school. He was a proud member of the Big Rapids Rotary Club and served a term as its President. He was selected to lead a team of young Rotarians to Germany in 2011 on a 6-week exchange program. He was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and served on various committees within the church. He was elected by the residents of Big Rapids to represent them on the City of Big Rapids Charter Revision Commission.
Bob gained pleasure through maintaining lifelong relationships with his Ferris State and Pharmacy students and colleagues. He served on numerous University committees, and was the Chair of the Ferris Arts and Lectures Committee, bringing speakers and performing artists to the community for several years. In 1988 he was honored by the Michigan Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities as Ferris State's Distinguished Faculty member, and was an active member of the Ferris Faculty Association. He spent countless hours to the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) Foundation as their treasurer, and was recognized for his service to the ASP by being awarded honorary lifelong membership in the association. He served as a member and President of the Michigan Wildflower Association and was recognized as a 50-year member of the American Chemical Society in 2022. Bob was a member of the American Botanical Council, the Michigan Botanical Club, and Sigma Xi. He shared his knowledge of plants and herbs to audiences at conferences across the world.
Bob touched the lives and hearts of all who knew him, and there are no words to express the sadness and loss we feel at this time. Bob was preceded in death by his father Harold, mother June, and daughter Christine Lynn. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Beth (Grand Rapids, MI), daughters Laura of Whittier, CA, and Allison (Max Conroy) of Ypsilanti, MI, and grandchildren Linden, Leah, and Samuel. Bob will be deeply missed by his sister, Jacque Flood (Michael) of Elgin IL and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
The family would like to thank the community for continued prayers and love during this difficult time.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 9, 2023, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Big Rapids, with visitation beginning one hour before the service at 10:00 a.m. Memorial contributions in his name can be made to the American Society of Pharmacognosy Foundation, of which Bob served as Treasurer for 25 years, the Big Rapids Rotary Club of which Bob was a member, or Maine Audubon Society, appreciated by Bob and Beth for its work to preserve Maine birds. Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory of express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com
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