Obituary of Marjorie Krakau

A funeral service for Marjorie Krakau, age 93, of Spirit Lake, will be held Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Grace Lutheran Church or the Renovation Project at Arnolds Park. Marjorie Jeannette (Clausen) Krakau was born on September 20, 1924 in Cass County, Iowa to Florence (Nelsen) and Albert Clausen. After graduating from Exira High School, she attended business college in Des Moines. She married Orville Krakau on December 10, 1944 at Oak Hill Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. To this union, Sharon, Donna, Richard and Marilyn were born. They lived in Elkhorn, Grand Junction, Boxholm, Harlan and Spirit Lake over the course of their married years. Marj enjoyed being a housewife and mother. Her chocolate chip cookies and banana bars were the best! After Orville passed away in 1979, Marj took up golf, playing in several golf leagues, including a couples league with her grandson Joe as her partner. One of her favorite memories of golf is when she shot a hole-in-one. She also enjoyed bowling league. Marj began her retail sales career with Spirit Lake Silver and Gold, working in their various stores over the years. She especially enjoyed working at Melinda's at the emporium in the summer and her days at the Clay County Fair after Labor Day. Marj enjoyed people, her social outings playing bridge until her eyes no longer allowed her to do so and outings to the V.F.W. Marj enjoyed hosting many parties over the years at her home. She also loved to travel and was always ready for an adventure. Most of all, Marj loved being a grandmother and great grandmother. Marj passed away peacefully at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa on January 25, 2018 at ninety-three years of age. She is survived by her three daughters, Sharon Bruck (Ron) of Des Moines and their children, Doug Bruck and Julie Olinger (Dan); Donna Gwinn (Bob) of Johnston; and Marilyn Vos (Gary) of Arnolds Park and their children Joe Gamble (Shelagh) and Anna Vos; seven great grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Harriet Alff and Ruby Krakau (Floyd); brothers -in-law, Jack Large and Larry Krakau (Mary); sister-in-law, Kathie Hrubsky; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. Marj was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orville (1979); son, Richard (1986); brother, Robert and his wife, Leona; sister, Ruth Large; sister-in-law, Gerry Petersen and her husband, Ivan and brother-in-law, Henry Alff.