More than 100 people attended an Oct. 1 celebration of life for Ocean Beach legend Kip Krueger, who was renowned for his prolific sign-making and social activism. More than a memorial observance, it was an affirmation of the enduring and righteous spirit of Ocean Beach.

Family and friends packed Jim Bell’s Compound at 4862 Voltaire St. to pay their respects for Kip Carl Krueger, aka Kip of Voltaire, 69, who died recently from lung cancer. Krueger was widely known, besides his sign painting, for co-founding The Green Store, which in 2015, changed its name to Ocean Beach Green Center after attaining nonprofit status. The Green Store was a hub for many activist activities in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Krueger was a gardener. He however was perhaps best known – and loved – for his philosophical quotes on wooden signs. Some were famous. Many were his own such as, “There are 3 important things in life. To be kind, to be kind & to be kind.”

Peace, the environment, and social justice were primary themes of Krueger’s green activism, noted Colleen Dietzel, a lifelong friend, and former partner. “Kip was really involved with the Green Party,” she said. “He ran for Congress (in 1994). He started making signs and it really took off – people just loved them.”

Krueger was also on the Ocean Beach Planning Board and the Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation.

Dietzel noted Krueger moved from Los Angeles after telling friends “he was going to become an activist.” Krueger did numerous jobs to support his activism including being a supervisor for recycling and tree-planting programs for the Urban Corps, which provides youth ages 18-26 with a second chance at high school education and paid job training on community and conservation projects.

At the Oct. 1 observance, Obecians spoke freely of Krueger. Some referred to his passing as being merely a “transition.” Others praised his social activism.

“He was almost like a spiritual advisor,” said one friend. “He had a good attitude and he was welcoming.”

A woman said she could always confide in Krueger adding she once told him she had some deep concerns for her son, to which he replied, “He’s gonna be OK. And he is really OK right now. I’m so grateful. Love you.”

“I’m sorry that we’ve lost a good friend,” said another friend, a female dog walker who added, “We were blessed that odd signs (of Kip’s) would show up. Our favorite is: “Caution, grownups afoot.”

A young family man noted Krueger painted business logos of seagulls for him, which he still treasures. “I can only tell you that he changed my life; told me to chill out, we’re in OB,” he said. “I look at that sign every day and Kip is going to forever be in our lives. He was a wonderful man.”

“Kip was such an outstanding person, I was so fortunate to have met him,” said another Obecian adding. “He knew everybody’s name and everything about everybody. He was just a wonderful, unique person that we’re really going to miss.”

“Forever I’ve been taken back by his amazing spirit,” said another female friend.

“He was really an activist. He got out there and did the work,” said another man testifying. “His signs did the work because people are still smiling.”

Juan, a former neighbor of Krueger’s, said he gladly volunteered to make and donate the wood pieces Krueger used to make his inspirational signs. “We all have a Kip sign, right?” he asked. “And not to get you jealous, but he said the signs he made for me were his favorites. One of them was ‘Resist because oppression will still exist.’”

A friend of Krueger’s who works remotely said she got to know him by going on daily walks during her lunch breaks. “He always just brought a smile to my face,” she said adding she made an Instagram for him, “It was something to talk about and connect with each other.”

John McNab, speaking for all, said of Krueger: “There’s an attitude in OB that Kip embodied. He was part of a generation. Ocean Beach is such an important place in San Diego. It sets an attitude that ‘no, that’s not right. We’re going to do the right thing. And so you had the poet (Kip) out here saying, day after day, what matters. He and others like him were pillars of Ocean Beach. This is a changing of the guard. We need younger people to take on that same attitude.”