Waldo Krueger

     Waldo Krueger was the son of Louis Arthur Krueger and Emma Anna Brandhorst.
     David's Memories of His Brother Wally
"     Wally was born in Owensville, Missouri, in 1936.
"     One of my early memories of Wally was him wanting to have a party. After I celebrated my sixth birthday with a party, Wally decided as a four year old that he wanted a party too. So he invited a number of guests -- without telling anyone. When his guests arrived, it was a total surprise, but his mother helped him have a party anyway.
"     After we moved to Hermann, Missouri, in 1943, our parents decided that Wally and I should not spend our summers in town. So they arranged for us to start spending the summers helping Uncle Walter and Aunt Emma on their farm. We did this together for five summers. Wally was eight years old that first summer.
"     Wally and I had many interesting experiences on the farm: stomping approximately 70 loads of hay each summer, milking one of the cows, hunting squirrels and rabbits with a single-shot rifle, learning about copperhead snakes, imagining that there are dangerous creatures such as panthers in the woods at night, and more.
"     Wally's love of the outdoors and his love of the farming lifestyle no doubt had their beginning with these early experiences.
"     Wally and I were old enough the first summer only to be water boys when neighbors got together to help one another with the harvest. Since Uncle Walter did not have a tractor and combine yet, an old-time threshing machine and steam engine processed his wheat and oat crops.
"     At haying time, the wagon used by Wally and Uncle Walter was pulled by Ray and Prince -- two spirited horses. I felt disappointed because the wagon used by Aunt Emma and me was pulled by Jane and Kate -- two slow stubborn mules.
"     Stomping the hay was a hot and dirty job. Even though we tied our pant legs with binder twine snuggly each morning, our legs were black at the end of the day.
"     One day Wally and I decided to locate the cows in their wooded pasture. We were following a path used by the cows when Wally stopped suddenly to keep me from stepping on a copperhead snake that I had not seen.
"     On another occasion, Wally and I were rabbit hunting. When I stomped on a brush pile to flush a rabbit that might have been hiding there, a rabbit suddenly appeared. Wally, who was slightly behind and on one side of me, shot at the rabbit with his 12-gauge shotgun. It was concerning to me momentarily but Wally left me out of the line of fire.
"     Wally was a bundle of energy; why walk when you feel like running. Energy wise, it was a challenge to keep up with him.
"     During the school year, Wally enjoyed playing basketball and having a good time with his friends.
"     One day Wally was driving dad's 1937 Ford up steep Pfautsch's hill in Hermann. When he saw another car starting to come down the hill, he decided to stop and back up. Unfortunately, he got too close to the edge of the road and he rolled dad's car down an embankment.
"     On another occasion, Wally was driving up Chrissie's hill in Hermann with several friends and a number of cherry bombs. Wally received a severe burn when a cherry bomb ignited in his lap.
"     In later years, Wally and I became teachers. Each of us taught in a one-room country school before the schools were closed through reorganization to become part of the Gasconade County R1 School District.
"     Wally spent a number of years as a teacher at the elementary school in Berger, Missouri. He enjoyed success and was respected and well liked by his students and his fellow teachers.
"     Wally's next career choice was to leave teaching and work for Western Electric Company. It was this decision that had him locate eventually to Cheney, Kansas, where he lived with his family and where he was living when he passed away.
"     Many good memories, Wally. Rest in peace! On 18 September 2020.¹