(Above) Greg Krueger at the helm of a yacht on July 30, 2006. Photo by Mark Gaskill. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

7-May-15 – Greg Krueger died while working on his boat – an untimely death but perhaps fitting for someone who once said, “boating is not just my business, it’s my life.”

Krueger was owner and president of Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales, which besides selling million-dollar yachts, operates the marina at Chicago’s Marina City.

Krueger suffered a heart attack while preparing a boat for launch on April 25. He was 67 years old.

In 2007, Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales signed a ten-year lease of the Marina City marina, in space that Skipper Bud’s had been leasing year-to-year.

“The economy tanked on us right when we took over,” recalled Krueger. “We were struggling like everybody, trying to figure out how we’re even going to survive. But we were not going to give up Chicago. I almost gave up my main store. But we made it through and survived. And we have a whole new business model structured right now.”

In 2012, Krueger started Chicago Electric Boat Company, along with Ron Silvia, to rent small boats on the Chicago River. Silvia is president of that company and Krueger was its vice president.

“He had a special love for the City of Chicago and the [Chicago] River,” said Silvia. “Greg was an incredibly special man with a profound love for this industry and he will be greatly missed.”

Since 2007, Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales has invested more than $200,000 on the marina at Marina City.

Krueger, who had operated boats since age six, started his professional career at age 23 at Jefferson Beach Marina in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He had a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and persuaded the university to create a special recreational boating curriculum for him and others destined for the boating business.

He washed boats, rented out houseboats, managed boatyards, and captained a ferry to Harsens Island across Lake St. Clair from Detroit. He also worked for a boat company owned by his grandparents.

In 1982, he started building consoles for boats. He founded American International and later sold the company to Genmar Industries, Inc.

“He was a profound man with a vibrant spirit,” said his daughter, Amy Malow, who works at her father’s company. “He deeply touched many, many people.”

(Above, left to right) Greg Krueger, president of Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales, his wife, Judy Krueger, who manages the company’s office in Charlevoix, Michigan, and Ron Silvia, in charge of the Chicago office and president of Chicago Electric Boat Company. In addition to his daughter, Amy, Krueger had a son, Erik, who also works for Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales and recently opened its newest office, in Holland, Michigan.

Krueger was an inductee in Michigan Boating Industries Association’s Hall of Fame and considered an icon in the Great Lakes boating industry. He was on the MBIA board of directors for 25 years and served as board chairman from 1994 to 1995.

“He was a character, full of passion and positive attitude,” said MBIA executive director Nicki Polan. “He was fun, kind, and genuinely cared about people. He actually got up on the table at the board meeting to show his enthusiasm for giving back to education and this was the start of our education foundation.”

“He was the consummate gentleman and professional,” said Nick Bischoff, vice president of sales and marketing at Sunseeker Yachts. “Always outspoken, he made all his builders better by speaking up about the issues he faced as a dealer. We had no choice but to listen. We loved his enthusiasm for the business.”

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday at Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

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