Hans Krieger
KRIEGER, Hans Max 87, passed away on Sunday, March 14, in Dunedin. Mr. Krieger was born on Aug. 30, 1922, in Karlsruhe, Germany. He was forced to leave Germany and his entire family at the age of 16, due to the rise of the Nazi power. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. Prior to leaving Germany and arriving in Virginia, he was a student at Gross Bressen, a farm school for German Jews who could no longer attend public school. In 1920, he entered the U.S. Army and served in the 3rd Army, 71st Division, 5th Infantry. During his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star and participated in the liberation of several Concentration Camps. At the time of his discharge he held the rank of Sergeant. Following the war, he married Della Neuberger in 1946. They would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this October. Before retiring to Dunedin in 1981, the couple lived in New Rochelle, NY where Mr. Krieger owned and operated several automobile service stations. He was very active in the Service Station Dealers Assoc. of Greater New York, where he served as President. In addition to being very active in many civic programs and organizations in New Rochelle, he also served as President of the Exchange and Elks Clubs of New Rochelle and was a member of Temple Israel. Upon retiring to Florida, he volunteered at Temple Ahavat Shalom in Palm Harbor where he served on the Board of Directors and directed their bingo fundraising program. For the last 15 years, he became the official "Grandfather" for the temple's pre-school children and staff and greeted them each day with a smile and a high five. The Temple honored his efforts by renaming their pre-school as the Krieger Early Childhood Center. Mr. Krieger also served on the Board of Directors at the Golda Meir/ Kent Jewish Center in Clearwater, was a member of the Jewish War Veterans and donated generously to many local, national and international charities. Mr. Krieger was a beloved and devoted husband to Della; father to Jeff; grandfather to Christopher and Jill and great-grandfather to Nadia and Brenna. He was preceded in death by his son Richard. The family asks that donations be made to the Krieger early Childhood Center, 727-785-8811.

Published in St. Petersburg Times on March 28, 2010