In 1963 at the age of 41, Verlen Kruger was introduced to the sport of canoeing. Soon after his first trip
he realized that there was an entire new world awaiting his exploration. Over the next 40 years he would race canoes,
design and build canoes and travel over 100,000 miles by canoe. Verlen's records and distances are amazing and will
most likely stand for many years to come. The true essence of what Verlen's canoeing was all about was in the adventure
and personal exploration he found on the vast and endless waterways right here within our own reach.
Verlen always helped others find this same adventure and personal exploration. He made available his canoes for all that
wanted them, he guided many to find their own way to the wilderness and taught an efficient, comfortable new way to travel.
The Verlen Kruger Memorial was set up soon after Verlen's passing in 2005. Our initial goal is to have a bronze
statue sculpted and placed next to his beloved Grand River in the town of Portland, Michigan. Since 2005 we have
raised almost $20,000 and we are happy to report we are about half way in getting to our initial goal and getting the bronze
statue done. Along the way we have realized that this statue of Verlen is just the beginning of what we would like to
do, to keep the essence of what Verlen was, alive and growing.
The Verlen Kruger Memorial is dedicated to the future generations and the health and wellness of all waterways. We
know that by awareness and conservation we can all help save our natural resources and have a positive impact on how
we live on our Earth.
If you did not know Verlen in his lifetime, it is not to late to get to know him now. His story lives on in a few books
and his canoes are still available for us to paddle. Please follow our links page to get in touch with those that are
keeping his story alive.
The Verlen Kruger Memorial will continue to hold paddling events to raise money for our cause, and in so doing pass
along a little of what Verlen gave to us, a greater respect and appreciation of all waterways.
