Tribute

We are sad to announce the passing of the much loved Adolf Friedrich “Fritz” Kruger on November 20th, 2016 at Moog & Friends Hospice House in Penticton at the age of 85 years.

Adolf was predeceased by his wife Susanna in 2014 and will be fondly remembered and missed by his loving family, sons Hagen (Kerry) and Roland (Karen); grandsons Nikolas (Kendra) and Alexander (Brandee); granddaughter Robyn and great-grandchildren Sofia and Steven. He is survived by his Brother Horsti (Edith), Germany, as well as extended family and many friends and neighbours.

Born in Kehrberg, Germany on October 5, 1931, Adolf spent much of his childhood growing up during the war years. Despite that, he had many fond memories growing up in Wittenberge and playing with his brother and cousins along the banks of the Elbe river. Adolf, in the true sense of the words was a builder and pioneer. After the war and having fled East Germany, he and his brother immigrated to Canada in 1951 settling in Winnipeg, where he met his wife Susanna and had two children. After studying English and yacht design, Adolf moved his entire family to Vancouver in 1964. They resided in North Burnaby and he worked for 14 years at Wright Engineers as an Electrical Designer, a job that sent him and his family to different parts of the world including, Beirut, Lebanon, Aleppo, Syria, and Tehran, Iran.  Adolf was always very active, he loved to hunt and fish and make wine with his friends.  He built boats, cabins at Whistler, a log home in the Cariboo, his home in Okanagan Falls, and the first winery building for Wild Goose Vintners. All at a time when there was no internet!  At age 52 Adolf, who was semi retired, visited long time friend Nick Broderson who owned a vineyard in Kaleden and after that visit, a dream was born!

Adolf and his sons purchased a 10 acre parcel of land in Okanagan Falls and in 1984 Wild Goose Vineyards was established.  In the mid to late 80’s as free trade began to cast a dark cloud over the BC wine industry, Adolf did not sit idle, but began to lobby government for a number of years to change winery licensing and in 1990 Wild Goose Winery was licensed as BC’s first Farmgate to grow, produce and bottle on site!  Adolf played a large roll in the formation of the BC Wine Institute, wine standards, and the VQA program that declared 100% BC content in wine.  Adolf was inducted into the BC Wine Museum and won the BC Wine Industry Founders Award in 2006.

Adolf grew Wild Goose and helped the BC wine industry grow from 17 wineries in BC in 1990 to over 300 across the province today, and a remarkable 10 000 + acres of vineyard planted province wide.  In his later years he was always active around the winery as “Mr. Fix It”, welcoming customers in the tasting room or entertaining guests on the deck of the Smoke and Oak bistro!

Adolf not only helped grow the BC wine industry, but his family grew as well.  Adolf cherished social gatherings with the entire family, always enjoying food, a laugh, and a glass of Wild Goose wine!

Please raise a beer and a schnapps to a pioneer, builder, intellect, father, loving and caring family man!

The family would like to thank Dr. Jamie Robertson and Dr. Andrew Robertson for the remarkable support, Dr. Wadhwa and Dr. Mangie and the entire Kelowna Cancer Clinic team, the truly amazing staff at Moog & Friends Hospice and all the volunteers who made Adolf’s stay as comfortable as possible. You will be in our hearts forever.

A memorial service will be held Dec. 3/16 at Linden Gardens, 316 Linden Ave, Kaleden, BC at 11:00 AM followed by a celebration of life reception at Wild Goose Winery, 2145 Sun Valley Way, Okanagan Falls, BC. from 2 to 5 PM.

Donations will be greatly appreciated and can be made to the Adolf Kruger Bursary Fund for the Winery Assistant's Program at Okanagan College’s Penticton Campus www.okanagancollegefoundation.ca

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com

Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos.