Wayne "Creature" Krueger

Wayne J. Krueger, 64, affectionately known as Creature, died on May 22, 2015, following a bravely fought battle with heart disease. Wayne was born July 6, 1950, to the late Alfred and Marion (Zellner) Krueger of Glenmore. He was a 1968 graduate of Denmark High School where he excelled in sports. On October 18, 1996, he married the former Mary Sekora at All Saints Catholic Church in Denmark. Most of his career was spent behind the wheel driving all kinds of routes during various shifts and all kinds of weather. Wayne was an active member of the Denmark Lions Club helping with food deliveries, the Poinsettia sale and the Lions’ Annual Picnic each July. He was a registered organ donor and was able to donate to the Lions Eye Bank to help others. For years he was a member of various bowling leagues, but his true passion was fastpitch softball. He was proud to have achieved 40 years of involvement on local teams, ending with coaching Circle Tap of Denmark. In his playing days, he held the position of catcher and took his last at-bat at age 50. He had a great sense of competition but also was a good coach in a time when players from New Zealand and Australia were just starting to be integral parts of the teams. He could always amuse everyone with his stories and sometimes it was hard to tell what was real and what was a line. He was honored in July, 2014 at the Circle Tap Boys of Summer Tournament by having his number’38’ retired during a moving tribute where his 4 year old granddaughter helped to toss out the first pitch! Wayne always said he was proud of his girls and lucky enough to have 3 in his life, his wife Mary, his daughter Amy, and his granddaughter Emily. He was proud to be called “Bumpa” and was already coaching Emily to use a real softball and metal bat. Wayne is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter and son-in-law, Amy and Jay Rott and granddaughter Emily Elizabeth. He is also survived by special cousins Ken Zellner and Cheryl and Glenn Schwahn along with their family, Stacy (Nick) Blahnik and family, Sarah (Rich) Wolske and family, and Godchild Stephanie (Josh Wolfinger) Schwahn. He is further survived by Mary’s family, brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Mary Lou Sekora, Tom and Karen Sekora, and Jim and Carole Sekora; nieces and nephews, Chris Sekora, Jerry (Tonja) Wicker, Julie (Bryan) Lemmens, Jenny (Jeff) Detrie, Stacy (Adam) Pouwels, Tina (Matt) Wojta, Tracy (Adam) Gallenberger, Nate Sekora, Alex, Tyler, and Alyssa Sekora; also many great nieces and nephews including 2 to be born this year. He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Samantha Janelle Rott, and Mary’s parents Frank and Lorraine Sekora. Family and friends may visit Knutson-Cotter Funeral Home, 536 Cty R, Denmark, on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., where the evening will conclude with a parish prayer service. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until the procession leaves for All Saints Catholic Church in Denmark. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at church, with Fr. William O’Brien officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cotterfuneralhome.com.