January 21, 1946 – January 16, 2026
Rudolph Norman Krueger, III, 79 years old of Kenosha, WI, passed away Friday, January 16, 2026, at Parkside Manor, Kenosha, WI.
He was born on January 21, 1946, in Rockford, IL, the son of the late Rudolph N. and Marjorie A. (Minor) Krueger, Jr.
Rudy worked on the assembly line for American Motor Corp. and retired after over 30 years of service. On February 23, 1980, he married Rita Hauptmann in Kenosha, WI.
He proudly served in the U.S. Navy for six years, and he often recalled his service on the USS Wasp; on December 16, 1965, the crew of the aircraft carrier gathered on the deck to watch the recovery of the Gemini-6 spacecraft and its astronauts. The USS Wasp CVS-18 operated mainly in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean oceans, and played a prominent role in the manned space program, serving as the recovery ship for five Project Gemini missions. The USS Wasp was retired in 1972 and sold for scrap the next year.
Rudy was an avid sports fan; he loved cheering on the Packers and the Brewers. He also played baseball for the AMC team, enjoyed bowling, and loved golfing with his two best friends – the three amigos are now together again. Rudy played clarinet in the Bradford Band and participated in a trip to Washington, D.C., where the band received a standing ovation for their musical piece.
Survivors include his wife, Rita; children, Darren (Jennifer) Krueger, Rudy G. (Heidi) Krueger, and Lisa (Bill) Heyden; siblings, Kay (Dennis) Panicucci and Ted (Cheryl) Krueger; grandchildren, Ashley, Rudy (Megan), Zach, Nathan, Elisa, and Brady; and nine great-grandchildren.
Rudy’s family would like to thank the staff at both Parkside Manor and Castle Hospice for their care and compassion.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at Proko Funeral Home, with a funeral service to commence at 11:00 a.m. Entombment with military honors will follow in Green Ridge Cemetery, Kenosha, WI.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Rudolph, please visit our Tree Store.
Events
Visitation
Thursday, January 22, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Proko Funeral Home & Crematory
5111-60th Street KENOSHA, WI 53144
Funeral Service
Thursday, January 22, 2026
11:00 am
Proko Funeral Home & Crematory
5111-60th Street KENOSHA, WI 53144
Officiant: Fr. Roman Stikel
Final Resting Place
Green Ridge Cemetery
6604-7th Avenue KENOSHA, WI 53143
