Rudolf Adolf Krueger

June 30, 1926 – Aug. 6, 2015

NATCHEZ —  Services for Rudolf “Rudy” Adolf Krueger, 89, who died surrounded by his family, at home in Natchez, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015, will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Saint Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’ Connor and the Rev. Alfred Camp officiating the Mass of the Resurrection.

Burial will follow at Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be at Saint Mary Basilica on Monday, Aug.10, from 5-7 p.m.

Rudy was born on June 30, 1926 in Bottrop, Germany to Carl Florian Krueger and Helene Kronberg Krueger.

He came to the United States when he was three months old and they moved to St. Joseph, La. and later to Vidalia. After graduating from Vidalia High School in 1944, Rudy worked in Galveston, Texas. Later, he worked in the oil field including West Texas, Oklahoma and Florida where he met his wife, Carolyn Howard. They moved to Natchez in 1953 where he worked for Hycalog. He later started his own business named Diamond Coring Service. In 1966, Rudy began his lifelong legacy with Texas Refinery Corporation (TRC) and also in the 1980’s started Rudy Krueger Warehouse.

Rudy was a member of the Santa Claus Committee and served as Santa Claus in 1979 and served as President of the Confederate Oil Invitational and the Gulf Coast Oil Tournament.

He was a fourth degree Knights of Columbus and won many awards while working for TRC including the “A.M. Pate, Jr. Award of Excellence” and achieved record setting sales throughout his career.

Above all, Rudy was an extremely hard worker who was absolutely devoted to his family. More than anything he loved having his family members around him, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rudy was beyond generous and always had a constant concern for everyone.

Rudy valued all of his friends, especially those in the oil business. He always made sure everyone had a supply of wood, tomatoes and pecans.

Rudy was preceded in death by his son, Rudolf Adolf Krueger II, his parents and his sister, Anna Krueger Clayton.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 65 years, Carolyn, and six daughters and their spouses: Sue Krueger Pate and husband, Adlai McMillan, of Natchez; Karen Krueger Hill and husband, Charlie, of Natchez; Kris Krueger and fiancé, Tim Reppenhagen, of Orlando, Fla.; Kim Krueger Lazarus and husband, Mike, of Natchez; Karla Krueger Richardson and husband, Bubba, of Monroe, La.; and Liesel Krueger Devening and husband, Kenneth, of Natchez.

Survivors also include grandchildren Charles Hill and wife, Megan, of Lafayette, La.; Christian Krueger and wife, Kelly, of Natchez; Andrew Hill and wife, Claire, of Lafayette, La.; Patrick Krueger and wife, Nicole, of Natchez; Caroline Franzen Casturo and husband, Scott, of Orlando, Fla.; Sarah Hill of New Orleans, La.; Michael Lazarus and wife, Candice, of Natchez; Elisabeth Franzen Bublitz and husband Jason of Tampa, Fla.; Helene Bridewell of Madison; Olivia Bridewell of New York, NY; Austin Richardson of Monroe, La.; Rudy Lazarus of Natchez; Lawson Devening of Natchez; Max Richardson of Monroe, La.; and Julia Devening and Clayton Devening of Natchez.

Mr. Krueger is also survived by great- grandchildren Landon, Sophia and Maddox Krueger; Isabel and Ben Krueger; Charlie and Rose Hill; Emma and Cecile Hill; Jordan Casturo; Taylor Halford; Walker Lazarus; and by a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Charles and Andrew Hill, Christian and Patrick Krueger, Michael and Rudolf Lazarus, Austin and Max Richardson, and Lawson and Clayton Devening.

Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Byrne, Jerry Paul Ogden, Dr. Carl Passman, Charlie Blaney, Pat Burns, Jessie Horton, Josh Calloway, Jody Helbling and Dennis Parks.

The family of Rudolf Adolf Krueger expresses its gratitude to Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Hospice Compassus and to caregivers Janice Anderson, Derek Washington, Jamie Morgan, Carlotta Jackson and Joann Williams.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cathedral School, 107 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. St., Natchez, MS 39120.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.