Dorothea Kruger

Dorothea Mae Kruger, 90, of Fern, passed away on June 16, 2019, at Parker Place Retirement Community in Parkersburg of natural causes. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 20, from 4-7 PM at Engelkes-Chapel in Grundy Center. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 21, at 10:30 AM at Colfax Presbyterian Church in rural Holland. Visitation will resume from the evening prior at 9:30 AM at the church. Burial will be held at the church cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family to be donated to a cause in Dorothea’s memory in the future. Abels Funeral And Cremation Service, Engelkes-Chapel, is taking care of Dorothea and her family. Online messages of condolences may be made at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com.

Dorothea Mae Kruger was born on November 5, 1928, to her parents William and Ruth (Mackenburg) Woodard in Cresco, IA. She attended Cresco High School, graduating with the class of 1946. Dorothea was united in marriage to Orlen Albert Kruger on April 22, 1951, in Cresco. Shortly after getting married, both Dorothea and Orlen moved to Fern where Orlen and his father opened Kruger and Sons grocery store. Dorothea and Orlen were blessed with three sons Steve, Lynn, and Daryl. Dorothea cared for the children and later worked for the University of Northern Iowa as a housekeeper, until retiring at 61.

Dorothea loved her flower and vegetable gardens. She tended to her garden, canning her hard work. Dorothea and Orlen traveled frequently, visiting notable places such as Florida, Salt Lake, and Denver. She also enjoyed quilting, fishing, and following around Orlen’s quartet, the “Laymen Quartet”. Dorothea was a member of Colfax Presbyterian Church and belonged to the Colfax Presbyterian Women’s Group.

Dorothea is survived by her loving sons Steve (Sheila) Kruger of New Hartford, IA, Lynn Kruger of Stout, IA, and Daryl Kruger of Highland Ranch, CO; grandchildren Megan (Josh) Dugan of Phoenix, AZ, Ryan (Shalee) Kruger of Garber, IA, Jesse Kruger of Woodridge, IL, Haley (David) Oswald of Cedar Falls, IA, Kelsey Kruger of Davenport, IA, Katelyn (Trey) Allison of Scottsbluff, NE, and Daniel Kruger of Denver, CO; 6 great- grandchildren; brothers Paul (Jackie) Woodard, of West Union, IA, and David Woodard of Boone, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant daughter Judy Ann, and sister Janice Werger.