Leland H. “Korny” Krueger, publisher of the Marion Advertiser for nearly two decades, died July 12, 2018, at the age of 89.
Leland was born Jan. 11, 1929, in Marion, to Louis and Martha Krueger. He was a resident of Marion and Mission, Tex., for most of his life.
He graduated from Bonduel High School in 1947 and served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Taconic during the Korean Conflict, achieving petty officer third class in the printing field. He was honorably discharged in June of 1954.
He returned to his native area to work as a commercial printer, first in Shawano and then returning to the Marion Advertiser, where he started working at age 11 before the family moved to Bonduel.
Korny was united in marriage to Nora Lydia Janke on May 21, 1955, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Symco. She was the love of his life for 63 years.
Together they purchased the Marion Advertiser, a weekly newspaper and print shop, in August of 1967, which they operated as a family business until Dec. 1, 1985. The newspaper went from hot type letterpress to offset on July 10, 1975. It was among the last in the state to make the switch. Korny sold the Advertiser to Dan Brandenburg, who still publishes it today. That year his son, Kurt, became editor at the Vilas County News-Review, where he now serves as publisher.
Korny was a standout athlete from an early age, playing basketball in the Navy and BABA baseball for more than two decades with the Marion Meisters City Team. His baseball years ended on a championship year at age 47 and after that, he took up golf and excelled in that sport for 40 years. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and constructing model radio-controlled airplanes.
During his newspaper years, Korny was active in the Marion Advancement Association, Marion Rotary Club and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marion. He helped plan the summer Homecoming festivities for many years, which included a free corn roast, burial vault races and fireman’s water-fight competitions.
The Navy veteran was a boating enthusiast, venturing out on Lake Michigan and taking long trips on the Mississippi River. Boating, waterskiing and fishing were always a big part of family camping trips to Three Lakes and Boulder Junction.
After retirement, the couple summered in Marion and spent winters golfing in Mission, Texas, for more than three decades.
Leland was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Harland.
He is survived by his wife, Nora; sons, Mark (Jane) of Menasha, Wis., and Kurt (Alice) of Three Lakes, Wis.; daughters, Jane (Rob) Larsen of Tualatin, Ore., and Mona Krueger of Lake Oswego, Ore.; brothers, Wayne (Diane) of Neenah, and Gary (Diane) of Milwaukee; sister-in-law, Posie Krueger of Clintonville; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are being handled by the Beil-Didier Funeral Home in Marion. The family is planning a private graveside service.
