Our History

Since 1858, six generations of Kruegers have provided personalized, sensitive and caring funeral services to our community and the surrounding areas. We are proud to continue the family business which we began more than 150 years ago.

Christian Krueger Jr and his family arrived in Blue Island in 1851 and shortly thereafter opened a carpenter and cabinetry shop in town. The Krueger family became involved in funeral service when Christian was soon called upon to make plain, simple wood coffins for his fellow townspeople and local farmers.

Christian Jr also served Blue Island as Village Trustee, Chairman of the Village Board from 1880-1883, School Director for 15 years, Township Supervisor and Road Commissioner.

Christian's son, Robert, learned the art of embalming in the 1880's and opened a storefront "undertaking" business on Western Avenue between New and Vermont Streets. In those days, wakes took place at the family's home and Robert, along with his son, Robert Jr, engaged in the family business on Western Avenue until the funeral home was built in 1927.

Robert Jr. moved into the newly built funeral home when it was completed. The funeral home was designed by Blue Island's own Robert Seyfarth, with living quarters on the second floor for the funeral director and his family. An accomplished regional architect, Robert Seyfarth also designed 6 other prominent homes in town. Actually Robert became a 'shirt tail' relative of the Krueger family when his brother William married Edna Krueger in 1906. In 1993 Krueger Funeral Home was designated as a historical landmark by the Blue Island Historical Preservation Committee.

T. Christian Krueger Sr, the son of Robert Jr, joined the Krueger Funeral Home in 1950, shortly after the sudden death of his father. In 1976 Christian Sr built an attached addition to the Krueger Funeral Home that included a second chapel and family lounge.

Kelle and Clay, the daughter and son of Christian Sr and the fifth generation in the family business, procured their funeral director and embalming licenses in 1977 and 1981, respectively.  Kelle officially retired in 2021 and Clay semi-retired in 2024 as he still actively directs most funerals.

Kanon Krueger Kysiak obtained his funeral director and embalming license and became the sixth generation in the family business in 2006.  Currently, Kanon and his wife, Cheryl operate the Krueger Funeral Home.  They also reside above the funeral home with their two boys.

Krueger Funeral Home, the oldest business in Blue Island run continuously by the same family, celebrated their 150th year anniversary in 2008


This building is the second location of Christian Krueger's funeral business in Blue Island, located on the southeast corner of New St. and Western Ave. Note the family name was still in german, before it was anglicized by removing the umlaut over the letter U and adding another letter E. The funeral business office and livery were located on the first floor with the horse stable on the second floor.

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This is Robert Krueger's storefront 'Undertaking' business in Blue Island, located on the east side of Western Ave.  This photograph, reproduced from a glass negative, was probably taken sometime during the 1890's. The wooden sidewalks, the barrels in front of the feed store, and the classic 'wooden indian' outside the cigar shop next door definitely captures the look of 19th century Blue Island.

Robert Krueger Jr., age 24, in June of 1917. This photo was taken in the Krueger Funeral Home's office on west side of Western Ave. The present address of this office would be 13036-38 S. Western Ave.

 Robert Krueger








 Robert Krueger Jr.










 T. Christian Krueger, Sr.