Renmembering Verlen Kruger

Dec. 14, 2008

This week marks the 25th anniversary of one of the greatest accomplishments in the world of exploration. On December 15, 1983, Verlen Kruger and his on-again-off-again paddling partner Steve Landick, canoed down the Grand River to Lansing, completing “The Ultimate Canoe Challenge.” For three-and-a-half years Kruger canoed 28,000 miles through North America. The expedition remains unbeaten.
A canoeing legend, Kruger passed away in 2004 at the age of 82. A collection of his canoeing artifacts are now on exhibit at the AuSable River Center in Roscommon through spring. These historical relics were gifted to the Smithsonian and will become a permanent part of the world’s largest museum sometime in the near future.
“Verlen’s wife did not want the items sitting in storage at the Smithsonian. Items sit in storage sometimes for years until they are displayed,” said Julia Borak, curator at the AuSable River Center. “So until the Smithsonian is ready, Mrs. Kruger has us displaying these items. Along with her daughter, she created this exhibition and is very thankful to have these artifacts on display in Michigan. We have no idea how long the exhibit will be here, so we are encouraging anyone interested to not delay in seeing it.”

HOOKED ON CANOEING
The Verlen Kruger story shows that one is never too old to find a calling in their life. Kruger had never been in a canoe until the age of 41. After taking a trip in Canada, he was hooked.
Born in Indiana, he dropped out of high school at the age of 14 to help his family during the Great Depression. He was drafted into the Army during WWII and became a reconnaissance tank driver. Eventually, he entered the Army Air Force Flight Training School and graduated at the top of his class as a pilot and commissioned officer. Kruger went on to become a flight instructor, trained fighter pilots, and even flew a tour of duty in Korea.
After leaving the military he made his way to Portland, Michigan (Lansing area) where he married, had nine children (35 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren), and became a successful plumbing contractor. Kruger and his wife divorced in 1984. He married two more times before going back to his first wife; the two were remarried in 1997.
Kruger’s passion for canoeing led him to paddle over 100,000 miles over the course of 41 years. His love for canoeing continued up to his final days, having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Just a week before he passed away Kruger paddled several miles along the Grand River.

WORLD RECORDS
His canoeing accomplishments earned him 11 Guinness World Records. Kruger was the first to paddle and portage up the entire Grand Canyon. He canoed every major river in North America and most of the major rivers around the world.
The AuSable River Center has become the temporary home to many of the artifacts of Kruger’s accomplishments. The exhibit includes three of the crafts that Kruger built and paddled during his 41-year canoeing career, including the solo canoe he used in the 28,000-mile trip described in his book “The Ultimate Canoe Challenge: 28,000 Miles Through North America.”
That trip concluded with Kruger canoeing some of the great rivers of Michigan. He crossed Lake Michigan through the Straits of Mackinac, paddling the Cheboygan River to the Pigeon River, the north and south branches of the AuSable River, then down the Muskegon River out to Lake Michigan. He paddled along the shoreline to the Grand River, finishing in Lansing.

CANOE LEGACY
The legacy of Verlen Kruger also carries on in Irons, Michigan, home to Kruger Canoes. He started the company in 1991. Today, the company is owned by Mark Przedwojewski who moved the company from Lansing to Irons.
“I was into skateboarding as a kid growing up in Lansing and wasn’t familiar with Kruger,” said Przedwojewski. “After I started canoeing I learned about him and then went to work for him. It is an honor to keep his legacy going. Up until recently I had a wait list for his canoes, and on average, I would build 10 or 12 a year. The economy has slowed the demand and right now I have orders for five, but regardless, I will keep the legacy going.”
For info on Kruger Canoes, go to krugercanoes.com or call Przedwojewski at 231-266-2089.
There is also currently a group working to build a permanent memorial to Kruger in Portland. A life-size statue is planned and to date $20,000 has been raised (about half of what is needed) through canoeing events and fundraisers. The Verlen Kruger Memorial will serve as an advocate of protecting the rivers of the world, a cause that was important to Kruger. Details about the memorial and about his life may be found at verlenkrugermemorial.org.
The AuSable River Center is located in downtown Roscommon. For additional details go to ausablerivercenter.org or call them directly at 989-275-4392 to schedule a tvisit. The Center is open most Saturdays in the winter (but be sure to call ahead) and will be open Friday and Saturdays during the spring and summer months.

Other Offerings
In addition to the Verlen Kruger Collection, the AuSable River Center has several other exhibits:

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon: Now past the half-century mark, the history of this 120-mile overnight canoe race from Grayling to Oscoda is filled with legends and characters. Learn about what it takes to compete in this race – now sponsored by the Weyerhaeuser Company – and what it means to be in the running for one of the richest purses in North American canoe racing. On display are T-shirts and paddles from the collections of local racers.

Jack’s Fly Shop: View the work of the late Jack and Ann Schweigert who became local legends in the art of fly tying.

Chief David Shoppenagon: A Chippewa from the Saginaw River Valley who settled in Grayling sometime in the 1870s, the “chief” was widely renowned as an expert trapper, hunter and fisherman. Dressing in his Native American regalia to impress his clients, he became a sought-after guide. Check out the dugout canoe that belonged to Shoppenagon.