Clifford Alvin Kroeger
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.