Thomas Kruger

Thomas Wilson Kruger, aged 82 years, passed away peacefully and while surrounded by family on Monday, March 4th, at his home in Boise.

Tom was born to Ralph and Lelah Ingram on March 1st, 1942, in Charleston, West Virginia. His father passed when Tom was just fourteen months old, and in January of 1949, his mother married Hans Kruger, a German immigrant and World War II veteran of the United States Army who she’d begun a written correspondence with the year prior. Tom, his mother, and his older sister Barbara moved with Hans to Stibnite, Idaho, where Hans worked as a heavy equipment operator in a mine, shortly after. They later moved to Boise, where Hans adopted Tom when he was 17.

Tom was a 1960 graduate of Boise High School and worked for much of his life as an aircraft mechanic at Boeing, Morrison Knudsen, and Boise Cascade. He was proud of working on the engine crew of the first 747 jet in production. He retired in 2000 and stayed very active in a variety of hobbies in his later years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling around the country to compete alongside his beloved shelties in dog agility, watching the NFL and all kinds of Boise State sports, flying kites, riding his motorcycle, birdwatching, reading Clive Cussler novels, tinkering in his shop, volunteering with the Boise Bicycle Project, and intarsia woodworking.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, sister, daughter Carol, and five more of his “kids”: dogs B.J., Buster, Clint, Rainy, and Tucker. He is survived by a loving family, including his wife of 58 years, Ann; daughters Shirley and Lynette; grandchildren Stephanie, Chanse, Samantha, Zachary, Noah, Servahn, and Cameron; nephews David and Brian; niece Nancy; as well as seven great-grandchildren, numerous friends, and dogs Bentley and Ria.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 7th, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Bella Vida Funeral Home at 9961 W. Chinden Blvd in Boise.