Tombstone Tuesday-Hugo F. Krueckeberg

Hugo F. Krueckeberg, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Hugo F. Krueckeberg, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

HUGO F.
KRUECKEBERG
Dec. 27, 1903-Oct. 5, 1985
The Lord is my Shepherd


“Hugo“ Friedrich Krueckeberg was born 27 December 1903, the second child born to Carl H. (1877-1943) and Vilenna M. (Bienz) (1879-1964) Krueckeberg. Hugo was baptized at the home of his parents on 10 January 1904 with Friedrich Krueckeberg and William Schamerloh serving as his baptismal sponsors. The church records note that both sponsors were from Adams County, Indiana. Additional research shows that his sponsor William Schamerloh (1859-1932) was married to Anna Bienz (1866-1942), the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Pflueger) Bienz, making William Schamerloh the granduncle of Hugo Krueckeberg by marriage.

Hugo Krueckeberg, age 6, with his family in Willshire Township in 1910: Carl H Krueckeberg, 33, head; Vilenna, 30, wife; Leo Krueckeberg, 7, son; Hugo Krueckeberg, 6, son; Elvira Krueckeberg, 4, daughter; Henoch Krueckeberg, 1, son; Elizabeth Bienz, 75, [Vilenna’s] grandmother; Earl Roehm, 17, hired hand; and Della Roehm, 23, servant. Carl Krueckeberg was a farmer. [1]

Carl and Vilenna Krueckeberg continued to reside in Willshire Township and were enumerated there with their 6 children in 1920. By 1929 Hugo Krueckeberg had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and resided at 934 Savilla Avenue and worked as a winder at Dudlo Manufacturing. [2]

In 1930 Hugo, 26, and his brother Henoch, 21, were lodgers in the home of Archie Hileman and family, 934 Savilla Avenue, Fort Wayne: Archie C Hileman, 28, head; Reah B Hileman, 27, wife; Keith W Hileman, 5, son; Philip L Hileman, 1 month, son; Clyde L Siler, 28, lodger; John V Siler, 23, lodger; Henoch E Krueckeberg, 21, lodger; Hugo Krueckeberg, 26, lodger; Ormond Burdick, 24, lodger; Charles P Persing, 59, lodger; and Etta E Persing, 62, lodger. Archie Hileman, the Krueckeberg brothers, and the Siler brothers worked as assemblers in a truck factory. [3]

Hugo Krueckeberg, 36, single, returned to Willshire Township by 1940 and resided with his parents. In fact, that census indicates that Hugo resided in their Willshire Township home in 1935. It appears that Hugo’s father Carl had retired from farming by 1940 and that Hugo had taken over the farming. [4]   

According to Hugo’s WWII Draft Registration card, Hugo farmed 5 miles west of Ohio City, in Van Wert County. In 1942 Hugo’s draft classification was 1-A [5], but it appears he did not serve in the military.

Hugo’s father Carl Krueckeberg died on 5 January 1943.

In 1950 Hugo, 46, son, who had never married, lived with his widowed mother Vilenna, 70, head, in Willshire Township. Hugo worked as laborer for a container company. Hugo and his mother lived next to Hugo’s brother Walter and his family. [6]

In 1953 Hugo was the best man at the Christmas Day marriage of Albert Roehm and Ruth Myer. [7]

Hugo’s mother Vilenna (Bienz) Krueckeberg died on 2 November 1964.

The container company mentioned above in the 1950 census was Van Wert’s Continental Can Company. In 1967 Hugo Krueckeberg was one of 49 employees who were initiated into the company’s Veterans Club, signifying 25 years of service with the company. For that, each received a scroll, a diamond-studded gold lapel pin or brooch, and a gold Omega wristwatch. [8]

Hugo Krueckeberg, 1971 Zion Lutheran, Schumm, directory.

Hugo Krueckeberg died in the Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert, from complications of a cerebral hemorrhage on 5 October 1985, at the age of 81. He was buried on the 9th. Hugo never married and was a wire winder at Continental Can. [9]

Hugo Krueckeberg had the following siblings:
Leo Charles Krueckeberg (1902-1970), married Helen Henrietta Miller
Elvira Carolina Krueckeberg (1906-1989), married Maurice Malcom Markle
Henoch Ernst Krueckeberg (1908-1996), married Ruth Schultz
Walter Friedrich Kreuckeberg (1910-2000), married Helen G. Backus
[male] Krueckeberg (1917-1917)
Anna Luetta Krueckeberg (1917-1942), married Edwin Herman Reinking

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 113, p.9A (penned), dwelling 114, family 116, Charles H Kruckeberg [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Apr 2019.

[2] U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Fort Wayne, 1929, p.446, Hugo F Krueckeberg; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, ED 25, p.25A, dwelling 569, family 619, Archie Hileman household; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 106, Chas H Kruckenberg [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Apr 2023.

[5] “Registrants Reclassified,” Delphos Daily Herald, Delphos, Ohio, 3 Oct 1942; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, sheet 8, Section 15, dwelling 120, line 36, Vilenna Krueckeberg; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[7] “Myer-Roehm Wedding is Holiday Event,” Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 7 Jan 1853; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[8] “CCC Adds 49 To Company’s Veterans Club,” Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 12 Oct 1967; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Pleasant Township, Van Wert, Ohio, Hugo F. Krueckeberg, 5 Oct 1985; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

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