Jeffrey Krueger began to explore writing to challenge his dyslexic learning disorder in 2004. He finished his first writing, a screenplay called The Maestro, in 2009. He continued writing his autobiography, Volume 1, Dad's Stories: A Life's Journey, The Younger Years, and Volume 2, Dad's Stories: Light Invades the Darkness.
Even though he hasn't completed these writing exercises, he states, "It's not the finish line I'm trying to cross but the process of writing to engage my mind that's important. For many who have found it difficult to write things down on paper, including things about their lives. Those first words, those first sentences, those first paragraphs, can open up a whole new world. I never believed I could write anything. But in my challenge to put words to paper I have discovered tremendous healing from certain childhood wounds and also a refreshing and renewed spirit in this creative process."
He finished his first published book of poems on December 29, 2021, Dad's 100 Poems, Riddles, and Songs in 100 Days. He started his second book on March 20, 2022, and finished on December 3. The third book in the series was completed on June 27, 2023. The subjects of the 100 poems, riddles, and songs range from sometimes silly subjects, like underwear, a trombone, a fire call, Santa Claus, and a toothbrush, to more serious reflections on life-from aging, preserving the land, addiction, a Savior, senseless violence, and the human condition-as well as the recording of daily moments from his surroundings and the natural habitat where he lives or explores.
Some of the poems, riddles, and songs are commentaries about subjects such as freedom, war, and the environment. Many of his poems also reflect his Judeo-Christian faith, believing in the power of prayer and the healing power of God's Holy Spirit.
Proceeds from the sales of Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within, are donated to the Family Needs Fund, a charity to help families in need in the Detroit Lakes area.
Krueger, Jeffrey: - Jeffrey Krueger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1952. He grew up on the northside of Milwaukee in the housing project known as Westlawn. He has been involved in the entertainment business for over fifty years. After arriving back from the Woodstock Festival in 1969, he produced his first outdoor concert in 1970. In the late '70s and early '80s he was lead singer of the American Pilots. He wrote and produced the music group's demo LP, Heart Notes. For a short time, he became an entertainment consultant in the Twin Cities area, producing performances of Chuck Berry, Eddie Money, Savoy Brown, Traffic, Todd Rundgren, The Babys, Ricky Nelson, Tommy James & the Shondells, Kiki Dee, Hall & Oates, Peter Tosh, Herman's Hermits, and Poco.In 1983, he founded the country music festival WE Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, one of the largest festivals in the nation. For twenty-eight years, he was at the helm as president of WE Fest, until his semi-retirement in 2010. He produced shows featuring the who's who of country music; to mention just a few: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Rascal Flatts, and Taylor Swift. After rededicating his life to his Christian faith at a Promise Keepers event in Minneapolis in August 1997, he launched a Christian music festival called Spirit Fest. It included six stages and over thirty musical acts and speakers per day, including artists Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day, Newsboys, Point of Grace, Skillet, Big Daddy Weave, Delirious, Phil Driscoll, A Ragamuffin Band, 4Him, and a host of others.He created a fundraiser called the Family Needs Fund, which developed into a nonprofit organization. It was designed and dedicated to assist the crises and circumstantial needs of families in his community. For the last eighteen years, the charity has been active in helping families with their basic needs and continues today.For the last thirty-seven years, he has been a devoted husband, father, and grandfather to four children and ten grandchildren. He defeated cancer with God's healing power and became a reclaimed wood-furniture maker, the inventor of E-Z Stack (e-zstack.com), and a full-time farmer at his ranch, Hardwood Hills Vineyard. Jeffrey began writing as an exploration and a challenge for himself in 2004. He finished his first writing, a screenplay called The Maestro, in 2009. He continues to write his autobiography. He finished his first published book of poems on December 29, 2021, Dad's 100 Poems, Riddles, and Songs in 100 Days.He started his second book, Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within, on March 20, 2022, and finished on December 3, 2022. He completed his third book in the series on June 27, 2023. Similar to his first two books, they range in subject matter from the sometimes silly, like underwear, a trombone, a fire call, Santa Claus, and a toothbrush, to more serious reflections on life- aging, preserving the land, addiction, a Savior, senseless violence, and the human condition-as well as simply keeping a record of daily moments featuring his local surroundings and the habitat, including certain animals and insects.Proceeds from the sales of Dad's 100 Poems, Songs, and Riddles Within are donated to the Family Needs Fund, a charity to help families in need.
