Marvin Kruger

Marvin Kruger

February 16, 1938 – July 22, 2024

Marv always said, “A cowboy should have three things: a good horse, a good dog, and a good woman.” He followed with “I was lucky enough to have all three.”

My dad, Marvin was a gentleman, a cowboy, a hard-working farmer, and the kindred soul to his love, Eileen.

Marvin was born and raised in the Hepburn area with his sisters Adeline and Dorothy. His heart belongs forever at our Kruger farm which he purchased alongside his dad in 1960. Marv had a reverence for nature and animals. He farmed the way he lived his life—taking only what he needed. Dad loved barn swallows, the sandpipers by his dugout, and the song of meadowlarks. He hated raccoons with the passion of a thousand fiery suns.

A horse named Perry had a lead role in the story of dad’s life. Perry and dad won ribbons and medals at many local horse shows and rodeos from 1960-1978. Dad said that he and Perry could sense what each other was thinking. Perry had a brand of ‘77’ on his left hip and dad always believed he was good luck. Marv never had another horse after Perry died. He was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ horse. As for dogs, dad loved Norwegian Elkhounds and he had two that had a special place in his heart, Knut and Scooter.

Marvin met the love of his life, Eileen on April 19, 1971, at an auction sale. They flirted with each other, he bought her a hotdog at the concession, and the rest is history. They were married April 28, 1976. They loved life on their farm together and for fun, they attended every auction sale possible. Dad and mom were kind, interesting, and genuine. Their farmhouse still echoes with laughter and the clink of coffee cups from thousands of friends and neighbours over the decades.

Marvin loved Dodge trucks.  There is an epic story of a truck that rolled down into the river hills when the towbar broke at Petrofka bridge. In dad’s story, he walked down to it the next day, fired it up, drove it up out of the valley. Legend has it that Abe Regehr was so shocked by the scene that he accidentally swallowed his cigarette. But…dad loved a tall tale.  Eileen kept a log of all the trucks dad bought at auctions over the years and she had 85 (that she knew of).

My dad was unlike anyone else. He navigated my mother’s health struggles with grace and compassion from the day he met her until she passed away in 2018.  Even after his stroke earlier this year, when he was experiencing dementia, he reflected on their journey, and he said: ‘I would do it over again a thousand times for her.’

I had the gift of caring for my dad with his health struggles this past year. I am grateful I could help him plant potatoes and spend time on his beloved farm for one last season. Dad always had a sweet tooth, and in his last days he was still mostly able to enjoy a Coke and a chocolate sundae from McDonalds. A dear friend brought him a supply of water from Petrofka spring that was always sacred to him.

On July 22, 2024—in the early morning hours under a shimmering, bright, pink, full moon, Marvin slipped away to be with Eileen again. I know they are driving down a gravel road, with her ‘sitting middle’ handfeeding him chocolates, listening to country love songs –the way it should be.

Gratitude and love to the staff at Luther Special Care Home who went above and beyond to care so beautifully for a cowboy who was very set in his ways. A private cowboy tailgate party will be planned for close family and friends at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.