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Winfield Museum showcases Kittle and Bruisin’ Bub display
Lifetime Mt. Union resident Bruisin’ Bub shares a lot in common with his grandson 49er George Kittle
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WINFIELD — Thanks to familial roots in the Mt. Union and Winfield Communities, San Francisco 49ers Tight End George Kittle’s jersey will be on display in the window front of the Winfield Historical Society and Museum until Oct. 7 right next to photos of his grandfather and former Iowa Wesleyan football player Viven Edmund “Bub” Krieger.
While Kittles was born in Madison, Wisconsin, he moved to Iowa at a young age. He then attended Iowa City West High School in Iowa City, Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, and later Norman High School in Norman, Oklahoma, but family ties and history still connect him to the Winfield-Mt. Union community.
Kittle’s affinity for football runs in his family, as seen in the museum display which showcases his grandfather Bub Krieger.
Krieger, known as “Bruisin’ Bub” was offered a scholarship to play at the University of Iowa like his grandson many years later. Bub, however, opted to stay closer to home and enrolled at Iowa Wesleyan University. His time playing with the University eventually earned him an induction into the Iowa Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame, as well.
Despite a National Football League offer to play for the Chicago Cardinals, Bub decided to stay near home and help run the 160-acre family farm he grew up on with his brother-in-law and father. In 1941 Bub married Lugene, known as Lucky, and they raised 10 daughters including Kittle’s mother Jan.
Brusin’ Bub passed away at his home in 2011 at the age of 91, but his wife Lucky still lives in Mt. Union and happily cheers on her grandson who wears the same jersey number his grandfather donned during his football career, number 85.
According to Winfield Historical Society member Susan Beard, the jersey was obtained through a board member’s daughter who is friends with Kittle’s mother Jan Krieger Kittle. Jan is lending the signed jersey, gloves, and photo to the museum for the display.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
