David was born on September 6, 1939 on a farm near Wisner, NE, the sixth child of Fred and Irene (Blome) Kroeger. He attended District 39, a one-room rural school, for grades one through eight, then he attended Beemer High School, graduating in 1957. He won a State Regents Scholarship to the University of Nebraska but dropped out after one semester. Years later, with the encouragement of his wife, Mardene, he returned to college, receiving his BA with a major in English from the University of Nebraska (Omaha), despite a heavy work and travel schedule.
David was drafted into the Army in 1961. He volunteered for an overseas post, but was assigned to Camp Carson near Colorado Springs, CO. Fortunately, he discovered that the pockets of his fatigues were the right size to hold paperback books so spent two years of serving his country by reading books.
David worked at a variety of jobs, including the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Hormel meat packing plant in Fremont and the USDA as a meat inspector. His final job was as an officer for the American Federation of Government Employees. His work as a union official required extensive travel throughout the Midwest and Washington D.C. to mediate a variety of issues. It also gave opportunity to tack weekend days to his travel schedule in order to indulge his love for exploring different places.
David married Mardene Mord on June 17, 1967 at the Fremont Alliance Church, celebrating 50 years of marriage in 2017. He was active as an usher and in the men's fellowship
David was preceded in death by his wife, Mardene; his parents; his sisters -- Fern, Ethel Heider, Ruby Wooten - and his brother, Floyd. He is survived by his sister, Naomi, of Chicago; brother, Daniel, of Milwaukee and by nieces and nephews - Glenn Heider, Karen Klein, Curtis Heider, Steve Heider, Jon Heider, Byron Kroeger, Christine Rerica, Kathleen Martinson, John Kroeger, Scott Kroeger, Rebecca Jennings, Sarah Kroeger, Timothy Wooten - and 12 grand nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of David's life will be 10am, Monday, June 29, 2026 at the Fremont Alliance church with internment at Ridge Cemetery in Fremont. Memorials may be given to the Great Commission Fund (missions) of the Alliance Church. Visitation, at the Ludvigsen Memorial Chapel, will be on Sunday from 2pm to 4pm.
Online guest book at www.ludvigsenmortuary.com
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