Kenneth Richard Kruger was born in Tacoma, Washington.
After graduating from Franklin Pierce High School in 1965, he enlisted in the United States Navy and attended basic training in San Diego. He served on the USS Princeton, USS Iwo Jima and USS Washburn. In his spare time, he learned to play the guitar.
After serving his country, he attended L.H. Bates Vocational School in broadcasting engineering. He moved to Yakima and worked at KAPP-TV, where he met and married Gwen (Sutphen) Kruger.
While visiting his mother-in-law's classroom, Ken fell in love with teaching and traveled daily to Ellensburg, Washington, where he pursued a bachelor's degree in elementary education. After graduating from Central Washington University in 1976, Ken and Gwen moved to Ione, Washington, where he taught third grade. They also shared a homestead on 25 acres. After six years, they moved back over the mountains to Centralia, Washington, where he taught second grade for Rochester Schools. He often led the primary school in singing as he played his 12-string guitar. Ken and Gwen spent nearly 50 years raising and spoiling their children and grandchildren.
Ken went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday morning, June 21, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gwen; his three children, David (Heather), Kathryn Turkell (Kyle) and Thomas (Jinaveve); and his grandchildren, Ephraem Kenneth Kruger (Ashley), Rebecca Lillian Kruger, Rafael and Jupiter.
Ken enjoyed fishing, music and the beach, but what he enjoyed most was having his whole family living nearby and the loving, close relationships they shared.
Ken is remembered as a devoted and equal partner and husband; a loving, gentle, soft-spoken father; a thoughtful, patient and understanding father-in-law; a kind and fun grandfather; and a consummate teacher.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Centralia. Memorial donations may be made to Simple Gifts, in care of Immanuel Lutheran Church, a program that feeds the hungry.
