Donald Krueger

Donald Krueger was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Otto and Marie (Campbell) Krueger. He attended Case Institute of Technology, and graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1953. While completing his studies at Case, he also met Erika Niemitz, who graduated from Case Western Reserve in Nursing, and they were married in 1954.

In 1954 Don also enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and served at Camp Lejeune until his Honorable Release in 1957 with the rank of Sergeant. Although he received numerous awards and medals, he attributed his rapid rise in rank to teaching electronics classes to officers: “they couldn’t have a mere corporal teaching them!”

After leaving the Marines, he continued to work as an electrical engineer for HRB Singer in State College, Pennsylvania. HRB contracted with the Department of Defense, and he and his family (which now included two daughters, Heidi and Janet) moved to West Germany from 1960-1963. Upon their return, Don continued to work in Military Intelligence as an instructor for the National Cryptologic School of Advanced Signal Analysis. From 1969 to 1972, Donald, with family, were once again in Germany, where he did further “we-really-don’t-know-what” work for the NSA and Defense Department.

After returning to the United States, Don sampled several jobs before finding his calling as an adjunct professor at Montgomery Community College in Maryland. He taught Automotive Technology, Math, Physics, and Chemistry in the Technical Training Division, becoming a favorite with students, and receiving the Outstanding Faculty Award in 1998. He retired from the College in 2004, after 24 years of teaching. During this time Don also found great pleasure in singing with the Laurel, Maryland Chorale Society, and collecting their many recordings and CD’s.

In 2005 Donald and Erika retired to College Station, Texas, enjoying easier winters and proximity to family.

Don is preceded in death by Erika, his wife of 63 years, his sister Marilyn Samas, and grandson Avery Krueger Fowler. He delighted in all his family, and is survived by his brother Clarence Krueger of Marietta, Georgia, daughters S. Heidi Krueger (Brooklyn, New York) and Janet Krueger (Bryan, Texas), grandchildren Lucia Finn, Kai Wallace-Krueger, and Alesha Zaragoza, and great-grandchildren Alexander Krueger and Elena and Audrey Finn, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A life celebration gathering will be held at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan, Texas, on July 13, 2024, with memorial service at 11:30 a.m., followed by fellowship, memories, and munchies until 1:30 p.m.