Lyman L. Kruckenberg, age 95 years, of Lyons, Kansas and formerly of Great Bend, Kansas, passed away early on Friday morning, July 22, 2022 at the Rice County Hospital in Lyons, Kansas. Lyman was born on November 19, 1926 at rural Great Bend, Kansas to Emil F. and Sophie J. (Soeken) Kruckenberg. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1943, and served in the U.S. Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines for a total of 3 years in both the Atlantic Theater and Pacific Theater during World War II. Lyman was united in marriage to Esther E. Keil on December 15, 1946 at Larned, Kansas. He owned and operated Kruckenberg Construction in Great Bend for nearly 40 years, and estimated that he had erected over 2,000 steel buildings in the area over that span of time. Lyman and Esther loved traveling and camping with their RV, and Lyman particularly loved fishing, hunting, woodworking, and baseball – having played and coached both slow & fast-pitch softball in his younger years. Lyman was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church and American Legion Post #180, both of Great Bend.
Survivors include one son, Martin L. (& Melinda) Kruckenberg of Great Bend, Kansas; one daughter-in-law Virginia “Ginger” Walz of Lamonte, Missouri; one son-in-law Joe McLeland of Wichita, Kansas; 11 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Lyman was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Esther E. Kruckenberg on December 16, 2012; one son Lyman Jr. “Butch” Kruckenberg in 2001; one daughter Jennifer McLeland in 2020; one brother Robert Kruckenberg and four sisters: Marvella Perry, Grace Rhodes, Pauline Halfhill, and Dorothy Marymee.
According to Lyman’s wishes, cremation has been chosen and a Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, August 12, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, Kansas with Reverend Thomas Thierfelder officiating. Inurnment will follow at Golden Belt Memorial Park Cemetery north of Great Bend. The family requests that Memorials be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, American Legion Post #180, or the Great Bend Senior Center, all of Great Bend, Kansas. A full obituary may be viewed and condolences may be left for the family at http://www.chartergreatbend.com/.