Remembering John Alfred Kruger.
He was also an honorary game ranger for the National Parks Board.
Johan Alfred Kruger (“Jannie”) was born in Johannesburg December 7, 1939.
He attended Helpmekaar Seuns Hoërskool where he was a prefect and avid sportsmen.
He studied law at Wits University qualifying as an attorney in 1963.
He played rugby for both Transvaal and Eastern Transvaal and Nuffield cricket.
He met and married his wife Hazel in October 1961 and had four children André, Chris, Nicolette and Deon and in time, 10 grandchildren followed.
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In December 1963 he moved to Springs and joined a local law firm before starting his own firm in 1969.
After a few years, together with his two partners, he founded the well-known attorney’s firm De Jager, Kruger and Van Blerk, where he practised as a much-loved and highly respected attorney.
Jannie loved wildlife and bird watching and he and his family spent many happy days in all the national parks in South Africa and Namibia.
He was also an honorary game ranger for the National Parks Board.
He had special interest in photography and many of his bird photographs have been published in bird books.
In the 1980s he starred in numerous television programmes and was well-known for his role in the Afrikaans television series Die Wel en Wee van Thys Coetzee.
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He was also, in his younger years, a keen horse rider, an activity he participated in with his family and friends.
Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays were spent on the golf course as a member of the Springs Country Club and later the Pollak Park Club.
He was a lay preacher at St Michael’s Presbyterian Church. His life and high standard as a devoted Christian set an example for all to follow.
Although retired in 2015, he travelled daily to the Johannesburg deeds registry office as he had done all the years. Despite all the challenges he continued to serve the people of Springs, providing a sympathetic ear and wisdom to anyone in need without expecting a return.
With his death on August the 8, Springs has lost a legend and mighty man of God, and he will be sorely missed.
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