Wilmette Obituary: Cliff Krueger, 92

With both sad and joyful hearts, we report the passing of Cliff Walter Krueger after 92 glorious years on earth. Cliff passed peacefully in his home in Wilmette, overlooking Lake Michigan. He joins his wife of 59 years Caryl, his parents Walter and Alice, and his oldest child Claire.

Cliff lived a full and remarkable life. After graduating from Northwestern University in 1950, he had a 60-year career in commercial and residential real estate. He built more than a dozen homes in the suburbs of Chicago, Hawaii, and Southern California and guided thousands of people into new homes. He published a book, “Successful Real Estate Selling” and mentored many in the art of real estate. A nationwide speaking tour took him to Hawaii, where he fell in love with this new frontier and moved in 1960. After 11 years there, he lived in Southern California and finally returned to Illinois.

Cliff’s life’s great love and defining feature was his wife and life-partner Caryl Waller Krueger. They met at Northwestern and married in 1951. Caryl was Cliff’s equal in every way, and together, they were a powerhouse couple, known for their amazing parties, community service, and nurturing of everyone around them. Each truly made the other better, and they were a true example of soul mates.

Cliff cherished his family, nurturing his children with an active interest in their lives. He deeply loved his grandchildren, extended family, including countless nieces and nephews, and the informal family he built around him wherever he lived. In recent years he enjoyed the progress of his grandchildren and most recently attended the wedding of his eldest grandchild.

Cliff’s love of world travel began when his church commissioned him to tour Europe, meeting with churches and building bridges of friendship. As an active member and chapter President of The Young President’s Organization, he and Caryl circled the globe together many times. He was known for his uncanny ability to locate a Baskin Robins in any town across the U.S.

A man of great faith, Cliff served the church and his community. He was a state representative in the Hawaiian House of Representatives, a church reader and leader, and active on countless boards. When he lived in Rancho Santa Fe, California, he planted well over 500 trees in the community, most of which are still thriving today. Cliff was known for coming to gatherings prepared to share a joke. He enjoyed the art of conversation and relished serious and lighthearted discussion.

His true passion was bridge and he remained active until the very end. A nurturing teacher, he introduced hundreds of people to the game he loved. When traveling, he and Caryl located bridge players for friendly competition. He started countless bridge groups, fostering friendships that endure to this day.

He is survived by three children: Chris (Amy Pertschuk) Krueger, Carrie (Steve Coffing) Krueger, and Cameron (Diane) Krueger. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Claire (Cody Carlson), Cameron, and Christopher Krueger, who reside in the Seattle area, Mia and Nicholas Krueger, who reside in the Bay Area, Maxwell, Molly, Michael, and Mitchell Krueger from Wilmette,IL and his brother Walter of Glenview, IL.

This obituary was produced by the Krueger family. The views expressed here are the author's own.