A prime example of
the style of living in Churubusco is
witnessed by the acceptance of "Churubusco's
All Around Nice Guy" and "Churubusco's
Favorite Son", John Krieger. 68 year
old, John Krieger, was perhaps the most important
claim to fame for Churubusco. John was born
with Downs Syndrome. When John was born, his
parents, Cloyd Pete and Hazel Krieger, were told
by medical authorities that he would probably not
live past his 14th birthday and that he
should be put in an institution. His parents
would have no part of this, and John was
kept at home.
For many years John would ride
over to the elementary school, during
recess, on his "police" bicycle. John would
proceed to do his police work, whether it be
making a routine traffic arrest or hauling
away a body from the accident John was able
to make a very realistic siren noise, and at
times vehicles would actually pull over when
they heard it. Through the years, local
businessmen and other townsfolk would
periodically buy John a new bike for his
birthday, complete with lights , siren, and
all of the other bells and whistles of a
squad car.
In later years, besieged by weak eyes, aging
legs, mumbled speech, and an increased
amount of traffic, John was no longer able
to ride a bicycle. That, however, did not
impair John in his daily rounds. John's
business cards shown him to be a fireman,
police officer, insurance agent, EMT, news
reporter, store clerk, and other various
professions, but his number one occupation
as stated on the cards was "Churubusco's All
Around Nice Guy".
In other communities,
people may have been embarrassed or shy away
from John, because of his antics, but not in
Churubusco. John was a well liked and
respected member of the community. In 1999,
the Associated Press got wind of John and
sent a crew out to follow John on his
appointed rounds for a couple of days. The
stories made national papers and even Paul
Harvey.
Since then the local newspaper office and
Town Hall have been inundated with responses
from all over the United States offering
their congratulations to John and the
community. Some have even contained moneys
or gift certificates for John to go out and
have lunch or a Coke.
The Indiana State
Senate even passed a resolution declaring
John Krieger "Churubusco's All Around Nice
Guy".
In October, 1999, CNN had received
word of John and came to Churubusco for
three or four days to film John and the
community. On November 7, 1999, CNN aired a
fifteen minute segment on the Sunday morning
Across America program. It was both
interesting and emotional to see through the
eyes of an outsider just how great this
community is. This truly was John's 15
minutes of fame, from a lifetime of fame.
Just another reason that it is great to be a
part of such a magnificent community. The
fifteen minute tapes may still be available
through the CHURUBUSCO NEWS office.
Just after midnight on Christmas of 2004, "Churubusco's All Around Nice
Guy" passed aways. He was 68 years old. The
following spring, the main road that runs
through the
Churubusco Community Park was dedicated as
John Krieger Drive and a sign was erected at
the dedication.
