Robert L. Kroger

Robert "Bob" Kroger, 83, of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Sioux City, died at his home on August 1, 2014. Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday August 11, 2014 at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel with the Rev. R. Paul Johnston of Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be Sunday August 10, 2014 for 5 till 8 p.m. at the Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with military rites conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps League, Siouxland Detachment. Bob was born in Alvord, Iowa, on July 6, 1931 to Henry and Cecelia (Bahrenfuss) Kroger, and moved to Sioux City shortly thereafter. He attended Irving School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High. He was a member of the 1946 Eastside Community House City Champions Softball Team that was managed by John Palmolea, a long-time teacher and coach in the Sioux City Public School system. Bob was chosen to play right tackle on the All-City Football First Team in 1948. He was elected senior class president at Central High and graduated in the 1949 June class. Bob joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1949 and was stationed with the Marine Corps Guard Detachment at the US Naval Base in Hawthorne, Nevada. He then served in Korea, and was discharged in 1952. In 1956 he began umpiring fast-pitch softball at Hubbard Park along with four well-known Sioux City umpires, Fuji Fulton, Stub Beaubien, Art Harrison and Ed Wiltgen, Sr. Over the next 40 years he umpired men's and women's fast-pitch softball, including Iowa Girls regional and state tournaments, regional men's tournaments, ASA National tournaments, and ISC World tournaments. Bob treasured his friendships with many former crew umpires, including Stan Wisnieski, Larry Heilman, Don Duff, John Duzik, Del Christensen, Dick Hansen, and the late Bill Clark. Bob worked for Armour & Company from 1953 to 1963, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa until 1986. He then worked for Courier Dispatch until 1990, and St. Luke's Medical Center until 1994. He retired and moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1994 where he lived until he passed away. Survivors include his devoted long-time partner Judy Morton of Mesa, Arizona; daughter Lori Ames, son Guy (Sue) Kroger; four grandchildren, Derrick Ames, Ryan Ames, Justin Ames, and Jennifer Kroger; one great-grandchild, Andrew Avila-Kroger. A brother, Wayne Kroger of Sioux City also survives him. His parents and a sister, Elizabeth Collier, preceded him in death. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City.