Robert Krug

Robert Krug
May 5, 1901 - September 8, 1983

Robert Krug had a passion for Oldsmobiles. Because he purchased a new one every two or three years, he often dealt with the local dealer, who said he was simultaneously among the fairest and most pleasant - yet shrewdest and toughest - that had ever passed through his door. His former students at Deadwood High School describe him the exact same way.

Born in the spring of 1901 in the eastern Wisconsin hamlet of Oakfield, Robert graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Ill. before moving to South Dakota in 1923. He taught math and science at Brookings High School until 1925, when he found a more permanent home in Deadwood. Physics, chemistry and general mathematics became his domain until 1927, when Robert was promoted to be the school's principal.

Though Robert's first wife, Gertrude, passed away in 1934, he continued as the leader of Deadwood's secondary educational system. In 1941 he earned a master's degree in school administration from the University of Wisconsin, but he had little chance to put it to use. Robert joined the Air Force later that year, rejecting officer training (and a desk job) in favor of combat. He returned as principal to Deadwood High School in 1943, a position he held until his retirement in 1966.

Robert married Elsie Krause in the summer of 1945. As time went on, he became increasingly involved in community organizations, including the United Methodist Church, the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and the Retired Teachers Association. Later in life he was recognized as a 50-year member of the Deadwood Masonic Lodge #7. His family also remembers him for his outdoor pursuits, which included fly-fishing and deer-hunting expeditions with fellow teachers.

His former students describe him as a tall, thin and quiet man, yet one who commanded respect from everyone who met him. Adept at establishing a subtle air of discipline, Robert never let that get in the way of showing personal interest in his students. Many went on to become business leaders in Deadwood and throughout South Dakota.

Robert lived for 17 years after his retirement, finally passing away in the fall of 1983. He was later buried with military honors at Black Hills National Cemetery.