There is a new tree growing at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. It was planted in remembrance of Danney Krueger, 52, of Austin, who died suddenly Sept. 19, 2009.

Krueger’s generosity extended beyond his life, and so his family planted a tree near the Ruby Rupner Auditorium in his name at a memorial service Sunday.

On behalf of Krueger, his family also donated his body to the University of Minnesota’s Anatomy Bequest Program to educate future health care providers.

This final gesture of kindness and caring reflects the way the Austin man lived his life, family members said. Krueger was a welder by trade and also worked for Hormel among other jobs. He was a life-long Austin resident, born April 17, 1957 to Kenneth and Betty (Holgate) Kruger.

Danney married Stephanie McKay on Dec. 24, 1981. Stephanie, who is grieving her husband of almost 30 years, said he will always be remembered as a kind, nice and generous man.

“Simply put, he really would give you the shirt off his back,” she said.

Danney’s favorite activity was hanging out with his grandchildren.

He was diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a lung disease, in 2002. He had a normal life expectancy, and the sudden cause of death is not yet known.

Doctors helped to save Danney’s life twice, and when he was ill his friends and family cared for him, his niece Angie McArthur said. He wanted to repay his friends, his family and the nurses and physicians who helped him, she added.

“It was impossible for Danney to repay them, and so he is continuing to give back by paying it forward,” said McArthur, who is also the assistant director of the Anatomy Bequest program and a faculty member.

The Anatomy Bequest Program provides for the teaching needs of the University of Minnesota and all other post-secondary schools in the state that have anatomy teaching programs, with the exception of the Mayo Clinic. The University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program is a whole body donation program. This is different than being an organ donor, but a person can select to be both.

Danney had designated himself as an organ donor, but doctors were unable to use his organs for transplant.

“The people, who will learn from Danney, practice their profession in every corner of the state, country and world … They are the health care providers that will be delivering babies, saving lives and making people comfortable in their last living days,” McArthur read at Danney’s memorial service.

“By studying his body, doctors, nurses and other health care workers will learn anatomy. And, Danney will be their teacher. As a faculty member in the University of Minnesota’s Medical School and an anatomy instructor, it is clear to me that although I am professor – the students identify the donors as their real teachers,” she said.

The announcement for Danney’s memorial service, held at the nature center Sunday read, “Jeans and a T-shirt are required.”

Between 100 and 150 people attended the service, which recognized Danney as a hard worker, and a simple and practical man. He was a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a grandfather, a friend and a good man that will be missed, his family said.

Danney is survived by his wife, Stephanie; children, Rachel (Matt), Kristy , Danielle, Justin (Nicole), Randi; mother, Betty; siblings, Sylvia, Linda, Dona (Kirk), Bernard, Toy Sue; “Papa’s special boys,” Michael and Ryan; grandchildren, Daulton, Jazmine, Ethan, Dimitri, Dacia, Detrich, Deeann, Tanner, Colin; lifelong friends, Gary, Ronnie and Terry; many nieces and nephews and his beloved fat cat, “Stink.” He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth, and his grandparents, Catherine, George, Vivian and Dorothy.

Each year the University of Minnesota Medical School students coordinate an interfaith memorial service to publicly recognize donors. This year’s service is Nov. 10, 2009 at Ted Mann Hall on the University’s West Bank. It is open to the public. To attend the service call (612) 625-1111 or e-mail bequest@umn.edu.

More information about the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program can be found at www.bequest.umn.edu.