Standing: Otto, Irvin, Lavina, Carl, Myrtle, Homer, In Front: Violet, Olive and Doris -- on Courtland Ave, Kitchener, date unknown (abt 1942?)

Birth

Lavina Doris Linder was born on February 24, 1879, the youngest daughter of William Linder and Charlotte Randall. She was born in Hawkesville, a small village in Wellesley Twp of Waterloo County.

Otto Carl Krueger was born December 31, 1881 in Germany, a son of Ludwig Krueger and Wilhelmina Klugman. The family immigrated to Canada when Otto was just a couple of years old, coming to Berlin, Ontario.

Marriage

Lavina Linder Krueger - after 1890

Lavina Linder and Otto Krueger were married in Elmira on November 11, 1902. The Ontario Marriage Registry of 1902, #017015, records:

   Name:      Krueger, Otto C.
   Age:       21
   Residence: Berlin, Ont
   Born:      Germany
              B[achelor]
   Occ:       Shoemaker
   Parents:   Ludwig Krueger
              Wilhelmina Klugman
   Relig:     Lutheran

   Bride:     Linder, Levina
   Age:       23
   Residence: Elmira, Ont
   Born:      Wellesley Tp, Ont
              S[pinster]
   Occ:       Servant
   Parents:   William Linder,
              Charlotte Randall
   Relig:     Methodist

   Witness:   Theodore Krueger, Berlin
              Louisa Roesch, Waterloo
   Date:      Nov 11/1902
   Place:     Elmira
   By:        Rev W.A. Vollick
              L[icense]
   Reg'd:     Nov 13/1902

• Her name was recorded as Levina and not Lavina.
• The marriage register repeats the fact that Lavina was born in Wellesley Twp.
• The witnesses were Otto's brother and his future wife Lou.

Lavina and Otto with two young children: the boy on the right would be Wilbert (Bert) and the child on the left would be Violet. Date: about 1906.

After marrying in 1902, Lavina and Otto quickly started a family. The first son Wilbert (Bert) was born in 1903, followed in 1904 with their first daughter Violet. In all they had eight children, four boys and four girls.

Starting in 1923, the Vernon City Directory tells us that Lavina and Otto Krueger are living at 143 Queen Street North in Kitchener. This was a prime residential district of the city at the time. Today there has been much redevelopment in the area with new government buildings and high-rise apartments.

Krueger Home after 1923 at 143 Queen St North

The local paper ran an item to mark their 50th wedding anniversary in 1952:

HERE 50 YEARS -- Mr. and Mrs. Otto Krueger, 54 West Ave., have lived in Kitchener since their marriage 50 years ago. The actual date of their anniversary is Nov. 11.

Golden Wedding Marked By Shoemaker and Wife     Fifty-seven years is a long time to be putting soles back in shape but Mr. Otto Krueger, 71, is confident this work has helped to keep him a youthful appearing man. He also believes living moderately is the key to longevity.     Yesterday he and Mrs. Krueger, 73, were honored on their 50th wedding anniversary. The actual date is Nov. 11. Their family gave them a dinner party at the Krueger home, 54 West Ave. HERE 70 YEARS     Mr. Krueger came to Kitchener with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Krueger, from Germany when he was only six months old. He began making shoes when he was 14. In addition to his regular work he has a small business in shoemaking and repairing at home.     His wife is the former Lavina Linder, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Linder, Elmira. The couple were married at the Methodist Church, Elmira, by the late Rev. Mr. Vollick. They have lived in Kitchener ever since.     A brother, Theodore Krueger, was best man, and the bridesmaid, Louisa Rusch, later became his wife. Both live in Kitchener. SISTER IN MOOSEJAW     Mr. Krueger has one sister living, Mrs. Albert (Lizzie) Williams, Moosejaw, Sask. Another brother, Gus, died in Michigan.     Both are in good health, with the exception that Mrs. Krueger's eyesight is failing. They are members of Trinity United Church.     Seven of their eight children are living, including Mrs. Violet Ernst, who resides at home; Mrs. Grafton (Myrtle) Wright, London, Ont.; Mrs. Norman (Doris) Murphy, Preston; Carl, Margaret Ave., Kitchener; Irvin, Hillview Ave., Kitchener; Mrs. Reginald (Ollie) Amy, Simeon St.; and Homer, Locust St., Kitchener. Their first son, Wilbert, died in his 20th year.     There are three grandchildren.

And six years later there was an item in the newspaper to mark their fifty-sixth anniversary:

Mr. and Mrs. Krueger Married for 56 Years     Mr. Otto Krueger, who retired in 1950 after 55 years in shoe factories, still repairs a few pairs of shoes just for fun. But today's shoes make him shiver.     "I can't see how they hold together with just a few straps and the sole," he said.     The Kruegers, who live at 73 Suffolk Ave., are marking their 56th wedding anniversary today. They celebrated quietly with their family Sunday. METHODS CHANGED     Shoe manufacturing has changed a great deal, Mr. Krueger said. He has watched heels go up and the variety of fabrics used increase. While materials are not as coarse and are more comfortable, he believes people are less sensible about what they wear on their feet.     "But shoes were more durable in those days," he added, recalling a pair he made for his wife. They lasted between 10 and 12 years.     Mr. Krueger, born in Germany 77 years ago, was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Krueger. The family emigrated to Kitchener, then Berlin, when he was a child, and the population was only 1,500.     After beginning work at 14, he was employed at several shoe factories in Kitchener. He met his future wife, the former Lavina Linder, at Rumpel Felt Company, Ltd., about three years before their marriage at Elmira Methodist Church.     "It seems like only a couple of months ago," Mr. Krueger said. HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN     Mrs. Krueger, 79, was born in Hawkesville. She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Linder.     While Remembrance Day had no significance on their wedding day, Mr. Krueger remembers celebrating the first Armistice Day -- completely forgetting their 16th wedding anniversary.     The couple have seven children, Mrs. Violet Ernst, Mrs. Reginald (Olive) Amy, Carl, Homer and Irvin of Kitchener; Mrs. Grafton (Myrtle) Wright of London, Ont., and Mrs. Norman (Doris) Murphy of Preston. There are three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Deaths

Lavina died at age 82 in 1961. Her obituary was printed in the K-W Record:

Mrs Otto C. Krueger     A Twin City resident for the past 60 years, Mrs. Otto C. Krueger, 82, of 23 Suffolk Ave., died Sunday at Coutts Pavilion.     Born in Hawkesville, Feb. 24, 1879, she was the former Lavina Linder, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur [sic -- William actually] Linder.     She was a member of St. James' - Rosemount United Church.     Survivors include her husband, Otto, to whom she was married in Elmira in 1902; two sons, Irvin and Homer of Kitchener; four daughters, Mrs. Grafton (Myrtle) Wright of London, Ont., Mrs. Violet C. Ernst, Mrs. Norman (Doris) Murphy and Mrs. Reginald (Olive) Amy of Kitchener; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two sons, Carl and Wilbert, four brothers and one sister predeceased her.     The body is at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home until Wednesday at 11 a.m. when removal will be made to the church for the funeral at 2 p.m. Rev. J. W. Pratt will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

Otto died five years later in 1966. A death notice and an obituary were printed in the K-W Record on Saturday October 15, 1966, page 25: Deaths ----- KRUEGER, Otto C., 23 Suffolk     St., Oct 14, 84 years.

KRUEGER OTTO C. 1881-1966   LAVINA 1979-1961 Mt Hope Cemetery, Kitchener

OBITUARIES Otto C. Krueger     Otto C. Krueger, 84, of 23 Suffolk St. died Friday at K-W Hospital after a brief illness.     He was born in Germany Dec. 31, 1881, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Krueger and had lived in Kitchener for the past 82 years. Mr. Krueger had been employed in the shoe manufacturing industry in the Twin Cities for many years, retiring in 1952. He was a member of St. James' - Rosemount United Church.     Surviving are two sons, Irvin L., and Homer L., both of Kitchener; three daughters, Mrs. Grafton (Myrtle) Wright, London, Ont; Mrs. Norman (Doris) Murphy and Mrs. Reginald (Olive) Amy, both of Kitchener, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Lavina Linder, two sons, Carl and Wilbert, one daughter, Mrs. Violet Ernst, two brothers and four sisters.     The body will be at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home until noon Monday when removal will be made to St. James - Rosemount United Church for service at 2 p.m. Rev. Dr. Charles Lewis of the church will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener.

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Most recent revision December 2018