Bob Kruger (82) longtime Clarkia, ID resident, passed away at Benewah Community Hospital on May 2, 2025.  He was born to Louie and Mary Ann Kruger on October 8, 1942, in St. Maries, ID.  The Kruger family lived in Avery, Calder, Cataldo, Kingston, Coeur d’ Alene, and St. Maries due to his father’s work.  At a young age, Mary Ann Kruger passed away, and Bob was raised by his stepmother Dora.  Bob attended St. Maries High School, where he was a talented athlete playing football, basketball, and track.  Bob graduated from St. Maries High School with the class of 1961.

Following high school, Bob enrolled into the Forestry program at North Idaho College.  Deciding that was not for him, he attended trade school to become an Electrical Engineer.  Logging however was in the Kruger family blood, so Bob went to work for Kruger Brothers logging for his father and uncle, Harvey Kruger.  He later bought a Jammer with his Uncle Harold and established Kruger and Kruger Logging.  While logging in Montana, he met Kaila Williams, the daughter of restaurant owners of a restaurant that he frequented in Saltese.  She told him a silly joke, and it was love at first sight.  The couple married on December 7, 1963, and made their home in Clarkia, ID.

Bob worked for several contractors before going to work logging for Potlatch in 1965.  He retired from Potlatch in 2007 after an impressive 42-year logging career.  Bob enjoyed riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, a winter hobby he shared with and passed down to his boys.  He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, picking huckleberries, and digging rocks with Kaila.  When his grandkids were born, they had him wrapped around their fingers.  He also shared his love of snowmobiling with them and bought them Kitty Cats to teach them.  He was very involved with his grandkids, and family was everything to him.  To say Bob will be missed is an understatement.  He was the most devoted, hardworking, caring, affectionate, and family-oriented man with the best sense of humor; he was a one of a kind.  Bob and Kaila raised their sons to know and love the Lord. He was in their life 24-7.

Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years ,Kaila, at their home in Clarkia, ID; sons and daughters in-law Ronnie and Sherry Kruger of Lewiston, ID and Wheat and Dawn Kruger of Clarkia, ID; sister Mary Lou (Rick) Carter of Peora, AZ; grandchildren Sharee (Patrick) LeBeau of Fort Worth, TX, Bradley (Aaliyah) Kruger of Coeur d’ Alene, ID, Zachary (Kayla) Kruger of Clarkia, ID, Rebecca (Tyler) Brown of Clarkia, ID; and great grandchildren Austin, Kyler, Loretta, Abram, Noa, Wren, Ella, Hadley, Cory, Lainey, and Colter.  He is preceded in death by his parents Louie and Mary Ann Kruger, Dora Kruger and infant grandson Kyle Kruger.

At Bob’s request there will be no services.