Deacon Gary Krueger passed on from this life on July 24 at the age of 76.

Deacon Krueger was born Sept. 1, 1941, to Harold and Dorothy (Krupp) Krueger. He attended Denby High School in Detroit and enlisted in the U.S. Army immediately after graduation, serving in Korea during the Cold War. He married Margaret (Peggy Kroetsch) on Feb. 6, 1965, at Nativity of Our Lord Church in Detroit, and the couple had three children (JoAnn, Peggy Anne and Stephen) and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Detroit on June 9, 1974, and served at various parishes, including St. Martin of Tours, Detroit; St. Peter, Harper Woods; St. Ephrem, Sterling Heights; St. Mary, New Baltimore; and for 20 years at Our Lady on the River Parish and Holy Cross Church in Marine City. He also served as regional coordinator for the Port Huron, North Macomb, and Old Belle River vicariates. At age 74, he earned an associate degree in legal studies from Baker College, the oldest in his graduating class.

Deacon Krueger and his wife were active in Marriage Encounter for 43 years. He was a member of the Marine City Knights of Columbus Council 856 and a fourth-degree Knight with the Richmond Assembly 480. An accomplished musician, Deacon Krueger also played bagpipes.

Visitation will take place at Young’s Funeral Home, 4061 St Clair Hwy., East China, on Aug. 10 from 5-9 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m. Deacon Krueger will lie in repose on Aug. 11 at Our Lady on the River Parish, Holy Cross Church, 610 Water Street, Marine City, from 10 a.m. until the celebration of his funeral Mass at 11 a.m.