Robert Kruger, 78, of Rock Island, Ill., passed away June 14, 2014, at UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island. Robert was born on April 24, 1936, in Manly, Iowa, the son of Alvin and Esther Walk Kruger. He graduated from Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa, and St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., with a bachelor of arts degree in 1959. He received a master of divinity from Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained in 1963, celebrating 50 years of ministry in 2013.

Rev. Kruger was a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and was a retired clergy of the Minneapolis Area Synod. He served Grace Lutheran Church in Wayzata, Minn., from 1963-1969, and East and West Lutheran Churches in Carver, Minn., from 1969-1994. After retirement, he moved to Northfield, where he lived until 2002. He moved to Rock Island to live with Dr. William Hiebert, a seminary classmate. During his retirement years in Rock Island, he often supplied at many area churches, including First Lutheran and St. James Lutheran Churches in Rock Island, and Calvary Lutheran and First Lutheran churches in Moline, Ill.

He enjoyed watercolor painting, storytelling, reading, and travel. His skill in writing and graphic design work was first developed working on the high school newspaper. He managed the college yearbook publication and later served as editor of the Minnesota Lutheran newsletter for many years.

Survivors include his siblings, Allen Kruger, Dora Runyon, Ruth Erdmann, Clarice Wilde, and Deanna Sande; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Myrtle Davis and Gladys Grant, and brothers, Walter, Harold, Edward, Harvey, and an infant brother, Richard. Memorials may be given to St. James Lutheran Church, Rock Island.