Verlen Kruger

Verlen Kruger (June 30, 1922 in Pulaski County, Indiana – August 2, 2004) was an American canoe enthusiast who paddled over 100,000 mi (160,000 km) in his lifetime.

Verlen Kruger

Biography

Kruger was born in 1922 in Pulaski County, Indiana.[1] When he as 14 years old, he dropped out of high school to help provide for his family during the Great Depression.[2] During World War II, Kruger got drafted into the Army, where he was enlisted to be a tank driver. He graduated from the Army Air Force Flight Training School, and became a pilot, and eventually a flight instructor.[2] Upon his exit from the Army, he moved to Portland, Michigan and started in business as a plumbing contractor.[2]

Paddling

Over the course of his life, Verlen Kruger paddled the most miles (over 100,000 miles) of any single competitor in the sport.[3] Kruger started his paddling career at age 41.[4] Of particular note are the 29,341 km (18,232 mi) Two Continent Canoe Expedition[5] and the 45,130 km (28,040 mi) Ultimate Canoe Challenge, the longest canoe journey ever.[6][7]

Legacy

During his lifetime of canoeing, he earned 11 Guinness World Records, and was the first canoeist to paddle up the Grand Canyon.[2] A bronze statue of Kruger was erected on the banks of the Grand River in Portland, Michigan by family and friends in 2010.[8][9]

Bibliography

Books
  • Frentz, Brand; Kruger, Verlen (2004). The Ultimate Canoe Challenge: 28,000 Miles Through North America. iUniverse, Inc. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-595-66973-8.
  • Klein, Clayton; Kruger, Verlen (1988). One Incredible Journey. Wilderness Adventure Books. ISBN 978-0-9611596-5-8.
  • Peterson, Phil Sr.; Kruger, Verlen (2006). All Things Are Possible: The Verlen Kruger Story: 100,000 Miles by Paddle (Print). Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications. Inc. p. 304. ISBN 978-1-59193-138-6.

Video

Kruger, Verlen and Waddell, Clint. Never Before and Never Again: The Fantastic Story of Two Men Who Paddled and Portaged From Montreal to the Bering Sea (VHS Videotape). ASIN B002N393X2.

See also

References
  1. "Verlen Kruger, 82; Canoeing enthusiast paddled about 100,000 miles". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. August 6, 2004. p. 11. ProQuest 420128465.
  2. Brabenec, Ren (December 14, 2008). "Remembering Verlen Kruger". Northern Express.
  3. canoekayakmag (August 9, 2004). "Obituary: Verlen Kruger Remembered". Canoe & Kayak. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  4. Meyerson, Howard (June 20, 2010). "Paddlers set to honor the late Verlen Kruger's appetite for adventure with life-sized statue in Portland". The Grand Rapids Press.
  5. Przedwojewski, Mark (2004). "The Two Continent Canoe Expedition". Kruger Canoes. Archived from the original on October 31, 2006.
  6. Przedwojewski, Mark (2004). "The Ultimate Canoe Challenge". Kruger Canoes. Archived from the original on October 31, 2006.
  7. Strauss, John (February 4, 1987). "Michigan Canoers take aim on Cape Horn". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. Associated Press. p. B4.
  8. Thelen, Tom (June 17, 2010). "Memorial to canoeist to be dedicated June 26". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 3B.
  9. "Verlen Kruger Statue, Portland Riverwalk". Trail Link.

Further reading
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