Obituary of Irene Kruger

A funeral service for Irene Kruger, age 88, of Lake Park, will be held Monday, May 21, 2018 at 10:30AM at United Methodist Church in Harris. Burial will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park. Visitation will be on Sunday, May 20th from 3:00-5:00PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Lake Park. Mrs. Kruger passed away May 17, 2018 at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Irene (Mouw) Kruger was born May 27, 1929 near Ritter, Iowa, the daughter of Arthur and Jeanette (Hyink) Mouw. She graduated from Newkirk High School in 1946. After high school, she worked a number of jobs as a waitress, nanny, and house cleaner. Several years later, she continued her education and graduated with a teaching degree from Northwestern College in Orange City. She taught second grade in Harris, Iowa for two years. She was united in marriage to Herman Kruger on February 18, 1961. They farmed near Harris and Sioux Valley, MN before moving to rural Lake Park in 1969 where they lived until their retirement. Irene was an active member of the Harris United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher, lay leader, and a member of United Methodist Women. She volunteered with the Northwest Iowa Area on Aging and served on the Lake Park Public Library Board. Irene enjoyed gardening, playing cards, reading, bingo, and doing word and jigsaw puzzles. She had a passion for music, often singing solos in church, and was a member of the Senior Saints. Irene is survived by her children Ilene (Jeff) Johnson of Blakesburg, Harold (Pam) Kruger of Lake Park, Denise (Glen) Schmitz of Iowa City and Donna of Des Moines; five granddaughters Leda Rouse, Jennifer Kruger, Sarah Kruger, Addison Schmitz, and Ella Schmitz; five sisters Betty Pekelder, Bernice Van Zyl, Lorraine Eickhoff, Sharon (Russ) Doorenbos and Ardis (Fred) Grein. Irene was preceded in death by her husband Herman, her parents, her sister Loretta Dykstra and her brother Raymond and brother-in-laws Don Pekelder, Fred Van Zyl, Norm Dykstra and Loren Eickhoff. Memorial contributions in Irene's memory can be made to the Harris United Methodist Church or the Friends of the Lake Park Public Library.