Obituary of William Louis Kroeger

A Mass of Christian Burial for William Louis “Bill” Kroeger of Elsberry, MO will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elsberry. Fr. Charles Tichacek, church pastor, will officiate. Burial will immediately follow in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Jordan Powell, Scott Kroeger, Nick Price, Andrew Beckemeier, Nick Gremaud and Doug Dodson. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Kroeger and Patrick Kroeger. Bill, 89, passed away Thursday morning, December 26, 2024 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry. Born February 19, 1935 in Guthrie, OK, he was the son of Arthur Allen and Doris Helen Kroeger (nee Crews). Following graduation from Guthrie High School, Bill attended Central State University in Edmond, OK where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics, a B.A. in Administrative Education, and later a Master’s Degree in Administrative Education. He was a member of the ROTC at Central State University and Oklahoma National Guard. Bill was united in marriage on August 22, 1955 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guthrie to Teresa Pat Wolfington Kroeger. This union was blessed with six children: Mary, Ron, Mark, Ann Michele, Pat and Karen. Bill worked as a math teacher, basketball coach and longtime Elementary Principal, retiring in 1996 from West St. Francois County R-IV, Leadwood, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers: Richard Arthur and James Earl. Survivors include his children: Mary Gallatin of Elsberry, Ron Kroeger and his wife, Amy, of Yukon, OK, Mark Kroeger and his wife, Jenny, of Elsberry, Ann Michele Kroeger of Foley, MO, Pat Kroeger and his wife, Rhonda, of Moscow Mills, MO and Karen Kroeger and her companion, Tony Pupillo of Elsberry; sixteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren. Bill also leaves behind a sister, Karen Ann Johnson of Jefferson City, MO; special friend, Sharon Johnson of Elsberry; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (or) Alzheimer’s Association in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.