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Clifford Alvin Kroeger
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July 26, 1922 ~ October 20, 2013 |
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October 22, 2013 |
 On
October 20, 2013, at 6:24 p.m. as the sun set in
the sky, it not only marked the end of a
beautiful fall day, but the end of a legacy of
an amazing man. Clifford Kroeger passed away
peacefully with his family at his side. The sun
started to set and clouds began to form beams.
Almost as if heaven itself had opened up to
welcome him home.
Clifford Alfred Kroeger was born in Oroville
California at his family home on July 26, 1922.
He was the youngest of three sons born to
Fredrick William Kroeger and Mabel Elizabeth
Bader Kroeger. He had two older siblings Wilfred
and Harold.
He attended grade school and high school in
Oroville. He graduated high school in the Class
of 1939. He joined the Coast Guard during World
War II and was stationed in San Francisco,
California. After being discharged from the
service, Cliff returned to Oroville and became
the President of the Chamber of Commerce. He was
also an active member of the Oroville Fire Dept.
He got his first job working for the Oroville
newspaper as a printer and obtained his printing
apprenticeship.
Cliff married Barbara Jean Reef in Carson City,
Nevada, on November 7, 1949. After they married
they lived in Oroville for a few years, where
their daughters Pam and Becky where born. They
then moved back to Carson City, Nevada, were he
worked for the state printing shop. While
working there, he was asked to go to Virginia
City, Nevada, to set up a newspaper named
Territorial Enterprise. He took the opportunity
and worked for the paper as the editor, manager
and printer.
Here also brought the birth of their third
child, Linda. They then returned once again to
Carson City, where his forth daughter Jan was
born.
He then packed up his family and took a job for
the Cle Elum newspaper. After working for three
years in Cle Elum, he and his family moved back
to Sacramento, California, where he worked for
the state printing office. Finally, after four
years he knew his passion was to work as a
printer for a newspaper.
He traveled to Bonners Ferry and was offered a
position as printer for the Bonners Ferry Herald
in 1969. Here he also joined the fire department
and later became Chief. He was finally home, and
never left.
Some knew the Cliff Kroger who worked for the
Bonners Ferry Herald as a printer for many
years, the newspaper that made Bonners Ferry a
final home for him and his family. He would
still religiously read the paper every day and
trust me he could find any error as if he was
still doing his job as a printer.
Some would know him as a devoted member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
From the time he attend church every Sunday and
most of the times he would go early to attend
meeting before service. He was also part of the
Genealogy department and would spend endless
hours working on genealogy for the church.
He continued his genealogy work at home as well
and enjoyed working on various projects with his
daughters at home or at the church. One of the
projects he worked on was the Genealogy for the
Bonners Ferry Fire Department, which is on
display at the local museum for everyone to see
and have for many years to come.
But mostly everyone would know Cliff Kroeger as
"Chief."
A devoted fire fighter, mentor and leader that
gained respect, admiration, trust and love from
every member of the fire department family
effortlessly. He always had the blood of a
fireman that ran through his veins even till the
end. His scanner could be heard when you visited
him at home and his turn outs were always by his
bedside. His passion was to fight fires .... he
lived it, he breathed it and he even dreamt it.
His passion was so strong that even two of his
daughters joined in his foot steps and
experienced that life of a fireman that he loved
so much. Even after he retired from the fire
department he still visited often giving help or
advise when it was needed.
He listened to his scanner from home and also
made sure Pam was always
on her toes when an ambulance call came in. She
would leave and grandpa would always tell us
that that was her job .... and someone was in
need of help.
In grandpa's final days, he would still wake up
and be adamant that he needed to go to the fire
hall for a fire. Just days before he passed away
the nurses at the nursing home, after many
attempts, had to call his family to come up and
convince him that he did not have a fire call.
Even until the end he still had smoke running
through his veins.
Last year was Cliffs 90th birthday party at the
Bonners Ferry Fire Department. The amazing
effort put forth showed the unspeakable amount
of respect, appreciation, honor, and love that a
community had for him.
The firemen, friends, family and businesses
donated food and their physical assistance with
what ever was needed. He was given his last ride
in Engine 55 and welcomed by past and present
firemen, ambulance members, community members
and family.
As the fire truck rolled up, everyone could see
he was thoroughly enjoying his ride in the
passenger seat of the fire truck. The firemen
greeted him and assisted with carrying him out
of the fire truck, being one of the sweetest
moments for him and the firemen.
One way or another each and every fireman knew
him by either fighting fire side by side with
him, fighting fires under his direction and
precise leadership when he was Chief, or hearing
about the legend he was ... but for Cliff ... he
was just doing what he loved with men he cared
about like family.
He was an amazing man. He touched the lives of
so many people. He had experienced many
hardships, only to come out on top.
His biggest passion though was his days of being
Fire Chief for Bonners Ferry. He was a well
respected member of the community and a kind
hearted leader of men who will be missed by
many!
Cliff was preceded in death by both his parents
Fredrick and Mabel, his brothers Wilfred and
Harold, his wife Barbara, and two grandchildren,
Barbie Hamilton and Cliff Hamilton.
He is survived by his four daughters Pam (Britt)
Hamilton, Becky (Ron) Pluid, Linda (Preston)
Stockwell, all of Bonners Ferry, and Jan (Wayne)
Lemmon of Elma, Washington. He is also survived
by 21 loving grandchildren, and 45 (and growing)
great grandchildren. |
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