Memorable Manitobans: Leonard Krueger (c1898-1991)

Educator, philanthropist.

Born in Russia around 1898, son of Ludwig and Regina Krueger, he immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1912. He lived at Thornhill and became an educator, as the Principal of Lundar School (1924-1925), as well as teacher at Brunkild School (1925-1926), McFarlane School (?-?), and Plum Coulee School (?-1938). In 1940, he was stripped of his teacher’s license on account of his involvement with Adrien Arcand’s National Unity Party of Canada and charged as a fascist. He later regained his license and taught elementary grades at Altona School and Gimli School, retiring around 1968.

Following a brief residence at Toronto, Ontario, he moved to Winnipeg where he lived in the downtown area. Rumoured to be a millionaire (which he was not), he adopted the simple life of a street-person, and was a common sight at the back of classrooms in the University of Winnipeg, where he would later establish three scholarships. Further scholarships were established at the Misericordia General Hospital School of Nursing (1983-1990) and the Mennonite Collegiate Institute at Gretna. He was a member of the First Mennonite Church.

In 1987, he was struck by a vehicle at the corner of Main Street at Sutherland Avenue, the result of which left him confined to a wheelchair. He died at Winnipeg on 2 December 1991 and was buried at the Chapel Cemetery in Morden.

Sources:

“Fists fly at National Unity Party meeting,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 June 1939, page 12.

“Loses license as teacher,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 September 1940, page 4.

“Board rejects teacher’s plea,” Winnipeg Tribune, 5 October 1940, page 3.

“Teachers’ pensions,” Winnipeg Free Press, 3 February 1962, page 10.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 5 December 1991, page E56.

“Benefactor’s life was surrounded by intrigue,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly Southwest Edition, 17 December 1991, page 6.

“Krueger dead at 93,” Winnipeg Free Press Weekly Rural Edition, 17 December 1991, page 11.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 3 August 2022

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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