Longtime pastor left his mark at St. Matthew in Hawthorn Woods

Friends and parishioners are mourning the death of Rev. Harold Krueger, the pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Hawthorn Woods for 48 years who oversaw its transition from a country outpost to a thriving suburban congregation.

"He was a really monumental figure," said church secretary Linda Wollberg.

Krueger, 91, died Tuesday. Visitation is 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, at the church, 24500 Old McHenry Road, Hawthorn Woods, followed by a funeral service and burial at St. Matthew Cemetery.

During 64 years, he served three congregations in three states, but most time was spent as pastor of St. Matthew from late 1952 until 2000.

When he arrived from Kinde, Michigan, two years out of the seminary, Old McHenry Road was a quiet country back road where farmers herded cattle and congregation members walked or rode horseback to services, according to a church literature.

At the time, the predominantly German farming community was becoming more urban, and new families with less traditional ideas sometimes butted heads with older members.

Krueger and his wife, Ruth, went door to door adding 100 people to the small congregation. A vigorous outreach continued and the ranks swelled. A second service (one in English, one in German) was added, as was a kindergarten to the Christian grade school.

The church continued to outgrow its facilities. A new parsonage, church additions and, on its 100th anniversary in 1963, a new school was approved by the congregation.

Another building wave brought a new sanctuary, offices, Sunday school space, fellowship hall and other facilities. The new church was dedicated in the late 1990s with nearly 1,700 members.

Krueger was the constant.

"He was instrumental through those years in the continual program changes and building changes," said former parishioner Bill Deets, who knew Krueger for 60 years and remained a close friend until his death.

Krueger had several opportunities to go to other churches but chose to stay. His tenure was such that he would baptize a child and years later perform their marriage ceremony, then baptize their children.

Krueger retired from St. Matthew but within three months was asked to serve as interim pastor at Gloria Dei in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for a few years. That mission lasted 13 years before his permanent retirement in 2013.

He is survived by his wife; six children; 27 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Call (847) 566-8020 or visit www.kristanfuneralhome.com.