Gregory Peer Gynt Krueger

Gregory Peer Gynt Krueger, 67 of Boyne City, MI passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, MI. Born on February 21, 1948 in Detroit, MI, Greg was the son of Peer Gynt and Dorothy (Kalis) Krueger.
After graduating from Chippewa Valley High School, Greg attended Wayne State University graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Greg was a lifetime boater and a third generation marine industry veteran. He spent much of his youth working in the industry doing things like washing, detailing and running boats, overseeing boat yards, and in Greg’s case, even captaining the Harsens Island Ferry on the North Channel of the St. Clair River. As a teenager he was in charge of house boat rentals for Sunset Marina on Harsens Island, MI and later oversaw outboard motor repairs for Krueger’s Boats and Motors which was owned and operated by his grandparents along with his father.
In 1971 Greg started his career in boat sales at Jefferson Beach Marina; he was 23 years old. Greg worked his way to the top becoming #1 in sales within six months and eagerly worked under the mentorship of former and late industry icon, Mr. Alvin Wagner. In addition to sales, Greg pursued boat building. He started building center console vessels in 1982 and formed American International.
Greg was a Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) member and Hall of Fame Inductee, who regularly served on the Board of Directors since 1983. He co-foundered the Recreational Boating Industry Education Foundation in the mid 1980’s, with the goal of building a better future for the marine industry.
Greg was the president and owner of Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales (JBYS), with six Great Lakes locations representing Sunseeker, Viking Yachts and Princess. JBYS is the oldest Viking Yachts dealer in the world, the oldest Sunseeker dealer in the United States and among the oldest Princess dealers in the nation. Greg made tremendous contributions to model and technology innovations among industry manufacturers, and he, along with the JBYS team, has been acknowledged globally for outstanding sales and customer service over the years.
He was highly respected, well known and well loved by his family, friends and colleagues who will remember his passion and dedication to the highest ideals, trust and professionalism. In addition to Greg’s love for boating and, of course fishing, he was an avid snow skier. Greg was a staple to his friends at Boyne Mountain and other slopes around the country. With his family always his number one priority, he treasured time spent with them. He was generous with his spirit and therefore known as a brother, a father and an Opa to many. Greg attended Walloon Lake Community Church in Northern Michigan.
Greg was preceded in death by his father (Peer Gynt), and by his first wife, Nancy Ann (Curatolo) Krueger.
On July 1, 2007, Greg married Judy M. (Harrison). He is survived by his wife, Judy; his children, Amy Lynn Krueger Malow of New Haven, MI and Erik Gregory Krueger of Holland, MI; grandchildren, Alayna Nancy Malow, Wade Victor Malow, Samuel Gregory Krueger and Isabel Nina Hutcheson; his mother and step-father, Dorothy and Frank Pryg of Macomb Township, MI; and sisters, Candice (Rob) Voigt of East Lansing, MI and Lisa Irish of Oakland, CA.

A memorial service and gathering to celebrate Greg’s life will be held Friday, May 8, 2015. Service at 12:00 p.m. at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI (www.stpaulonthelake.org) with Celabratory Luncheon immediately following church at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI (www.gpyc.org)
Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions in his memory to the Recreational Boating Industries Educational Foundation (RBIEF), c/o Michigan Boating Industries Association, 32398 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48154-6109, (734-261-0123).

Arrangements are by Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Please share your memories and personal messages with the family at www.gaylordfuneralhome.com