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 2004. 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.
