John M. Kroger

John M. Kroger, 84, of Lyons, Nebraska died on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska following a brief illness. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church in Lyons; Pastor Gary Fugman will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Friday from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Bancroft. Burial will be in the Bancroft Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to First Presbyterian Church or the Gideon Society. John was born on September 8, 1926 in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of John Sr. and Nina (Manely) Kroger. He was raised on the family farm near Rosalie, Nebraska. He graduated from Rosalie High School in 1943 and from the University of Nebraska in 1947 with a degree in Agriculture. On June 4th, 1950, John was married to Joyce Diedrichsen. After their marriage, they farmed in the Rosalie and Bancroft areas for the next 57 years. John was an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Lyons. He also served on numerous boards and associations including: the Rosalie School Board, Thurston County Fair Board and National Corn Growers Association. John and Joyce enjoyed traveling, especially family fishing trips to Minnesota. However, their greatest joy came from their love of the Lord and their children and grandchildren. John is survived by his children: John C and Kim of Bennington, Nebraska; Paul and Teresa of Little Rock, Arkansas; Mark and Carole of Amarillo, Texas; Dwight and Lisa of Sioux City, Iowa and Carol and Mark Shires of Glendale, Wisconsin. He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren and a brother Willis Kroger and his wife Janet of Lyons, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joyce and an infant son Keith.