David ‘Dave’ Kruger

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 4:06 pm

David “Dave” Steven Kruger, 63, of Waukon, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2024, at his home.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Oct. 4, at Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Rd, Waukon IA, 52172 from 4 to 7 p.m..

Dave was born in February 1961 to Ben and Joan (Helming) Kruger in Waukon, IA. He was baptized and later confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in Waukon.

He graduated from Waukon High School in 1979; and in 1986, he met his future bride, Pam, at Glenwood Church while singing in a wedding. They were married in 1988 and that same year took over the family Brown Swiss cattle dairy farm, Stormy View Farm. In 1996, he gained his coaching authorization and started coaching for the City of Waukon, eventually moving to Junior High and High School coaching. The players he coached were always treated as family, and the joy he felt watching their growth was evident to all he talked with. In 2011, he and Pam opened Empty Nest Winery and he retired from coaching the following year to focus on the business.

In 2022, after 2 years of unanswered questions and tests, he was diagnosed with ALS. He continued to fight and enjoy life through the end, especially finding joy in the beaches of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, the sunshine on his family farm, and the conversations with & watching his kids and grandkids.

Dave is survived by his wife of 36 years Pam; his 4 children Kyle (Jamie) Halse, Kristen (Jerome) Nelson, Nick (Katie) Kruger, and Brittany (Austin) Maine; father-in-Law Ray Kvamme; brother Ken (Kristen) Kruger; brother-in-Law Greg Northcutt; and grandkids Keeran, Kade, Henry, Emmett, Sonoma, Maddelyn, and Ella.

He is preceded in death by his parents Ben and Joan; mother-in-law Phyllis Kvamme; and sister Wendy Northcutt.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the IA ALS foundation at https://www.als.org/support/states/iowa. Condolences may be left on IowaCremation.com under “Obituaries” or sent to The Kruger Family C/O Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Rd, Waukon, IA 52172.