James Krueger

Krueger, James H.
“Jim”

James H. Krueger, 62, passed into eternal life on Tuesday, May 10, 2005, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Jim was born on January 5, 1943 in Milwaukee, the first of four children to Herbert and Lily Krueger. On April 18, 1965, Jim married Cheryl (Sherry) Stein in Milwaukee and was married for 22 years until Sherry passed into eternal life on November 6, 1987. During their marriage Jim and Sherry were blessed with five children. On September 12, 1992, Jim married Bonnie Winter (Freiboth), who already was blessed with three children. Jim and Bonnie have been further blessed with 12 grandchildren. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jim proudly spent his entire professional career, beginning on January 15, 1965, with Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) and its successor organization, Thrivent Financial. From 1965 to 1982, Jim served as a District Representative, first in Milwaukee and later in Green Bay. During this period Jim was one of AAL’s Top 10 agents each year in terms of production, including leading AAL in production in 1967, 1968 and 1976. By 1983, when Jim accepted a General Agent position with AAL in Rochester, Minnesota, Jim was AAL’s cumulative career production leader. In 1987, Jim accepted an offer to succeed his father as General Agent for the Appleton-based AAL agency. Jim also served as AAL’s Director of Field Leadership from 1997 to 1999 and as Director of Agencies from 1999 to 2000. After the AAL-Lutheran Brotherhood merger, Jim became Co-Managing Partner for Thrivent’s Northeast Wisconsin Regional Financial Office in 2002. In July 2003, he became the sole Managing Partner. Earlier this year Jim celebrated his 40th anniversary with the company and accepted the position of Consulting Managing Partner. Each year Jim’s agencies have been leaders in the field with the current agency boasting more than 100 Financial Representatives serving northeast Wisconsin.

Jim fervently believed in the life-changing benefits to families of the insurance and financial services industry, the value of continuing professional development, the need for personal integrity and the obligation of personal service back to the profession. Jim earned numerous professional designations, including CLU, ChFC, RHU, CLF, FIC, and LUTCF. Jim also earned MSFS and MSM degrees from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Jim served in numerous industry leadership positions, including President of the Wisconsin Association of Life Underwriters, President of the Wisconsin General Agents and Managers Association (GAMA), Trustee for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Trustee for the American College and a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table. In June 2004, Jim became President of GAMA International and in March 2005 delivered the President’s Address at GAMA International’s annual convention. Also in June 2004, Jim dedicated the Krueger Family Office at the American College, honoring the to-date three generations of the Herb Krueger Family who have served in the financial services industry. Like his father, Jim was a member of the AAL Field Staff Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin GAMA Hall of Fame and a recipient of the A. Jack Nussbaum Distinguished Service Award. Earlier this month, GAMA International renamed its annual award for outstanding individual leadership “The James H. Krueger First in Class Award.” Jim’s life epitomized his strong belief in faith, family, friends and financial security.

Jim is survived by wife Bonnie; children Kenneth (Amy), Kelly Kruepke (Bill), Kristin Schumacher (Chris), James II (Melissa) and Jason (fiance Cory) ; step-children Christopher Winter (Jennifer), Jodie Winter, and Andrea Winter; parents Herbert and Lily; parents-in-law Kenneth and Marjorie Stein and Clarence and Ruth Freiboth; siblings Herbert Jr. (Judy), Joan Bauer and Patricia; and 12 grandchildren: Aubree, Tyler, Brenna, Grace, Ashley, Jack, Luke, Kate, James III, Lily, Jacob and Caroline. Jim is further survived by his brother-in-law, Robert (Judy) Freiboth), his sisters-in-law, Margie (Larry) Karbon and Nancy (Terry) Anderson; and his nieces, nephews and cousins. He always will be remembered as a loving son, brother, husband, father, step-father and grandfather. Jim greatly enjoyed playing with his grandchildren, spending time at his Wisconsin lake home and at his Florida condo, and attending Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers football games.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 16, 2005, at MOUNT OLIVE EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, 930 East Florida Avenue, Appleton, with Rev. Robert Raasch officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and directly at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. A private committal service will follow at Highland Memorial Park, Appleton, at 2:00 p.m. Memorials have been established in Jim’s name to benefit the Time of Grace Ministry or the Fox Valley Lutheran High School Tuition Assistance Fund. The family thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOMES
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231
www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com