Ronald Krueger Jr.

Krueger, Ronald James Jr. - Age 78, of Grand Blanc, died June 1, 2021. Visitation will be held 1-4 PM and 6-8 PM Saturday, June 12 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd. Swartz Creek. Services will be announced at a later date to be held at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint. Ronald was born on February 5, 1943, in Three Rivers, Michigan, the son of Genevieve Dodd Krueger and Ronald Sr. His father had to rely on long-distance accounts of his first child’s birth until September 1945, when he returned from war service in Europe.The family lived for a time near Pontiac MI before relocating, first to Dallas TX, and then to St. Joseph MO before returning to Michigan to be closer to family. Ronald attended elementary school near Lansing before his parents moved to Clio, where he graduated high school in 1961. Along the way, brothers David (deceased), Doug (deceased) and Warren were born, in addition to a sister, Juli. Ronald graduated Western Michigan University in 1966. He helped edit and write for the college newspaper during his time at WMU, pointing him toward a career in newspaper journalism. He worked for the Aurora (Ill.) Beacon-News from 1966-1970, the Battle Creek Enquirer-News from 1970-76 and the Flint Journal from 1976-2011. He performed in various copy-editing and reporting roles for the first 18 years before finding a niche as food writer/dining columnist at The Journal for the next 22 years. Ron’s newspaper career spanned the technological spectrum, starting with “hot type” and ending when computers moved virtually every phase of publishing into the hands of newsroom staff. Needless to say, his main hobby was cooking, spanning a wide array of cultures and cuisines. He claimed his favorite meal was breakfast, consisting of good coffee, an egg/potato frittata, some of his home-smoked bacon and, on occasion, a creatively garnished Bloody Mary or Mimosa. Ron picked up food ideas during trips to Italy, France, Spain, Cuba - and closer to home - to Miami, Memphis, San Diego and Chicago. Ron edited a cookbook, “Scoops,” consisting of Journal readers’, and his, favorite recipes. Good wine, craft beer and whisky were what he called his “affordable pleasures,” which he liked nothing better than to share with friends. He loved to grill on his Weber kettle grill and smoke pork belly, pork and fish. His interest in barbecue led him to become a contest judge through the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Ron’s athletic outlet was tennis, which he took up around age 30 and played as often as possible. He was a longtime member of the former Genesee Valley Tennis Club and longtime member and board member of his beloved Flint Tennis Club, home to the only “real” clay courts in the state. Ron for many years led the Flint Chapter of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan and was a former board member of the state association. He also spoke to impaired-driving offenders for many years, relating the story of son Philip’s disabling brain injury. He was a longtime active member of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Flint. The family gratefully acknowledges these providers of care: Osama Galal, M.D.; Samir Basata, M.D.; the doctors at Karmanos Cancer Institute, Flint campus; McLaren Proton Beam Therapy Center; Cleveland Clinic; Michigan Vascular Center and Vein Solutions; Ascension Genesys Hospital; McLaren Regional Medical Center; Ascension Genesys at Home; and McLaren Home Care and Hospice. Surviving are sons Clay (Kelly) of Grand Blanc Township and Philip of Ann Arbor; sister Juli (Tom) Killman of Mansfield TX; brother Warren (Joy) of West Lafayette IN; and longtime companion Mary Rose Karl of Ypsilanti. Ms. Karl ensured that Ron continued to enjoy a rich quality of life during the time he was ill. He sorely missed brother Douglas of Portage after the his passing in 2018. Please, no flowers. Memorial gifts to the Brain Injury Association of Michigan or Gift of Life Michigan are appreciated. Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.