Leona Mae Kruger

George, IA

     Leona M Kruger, age 89 of George, IA died Friday, September 25, 2020 at the Good Samaritan Society in George, IA.

     A private family committal service will be held on Saturday, October 3 at Evergreen Lawn Cemetery.

     Leona M (Jans) Kruger was born December 25, 1930, near Sibley, IA the daughter of Andrew and  Ellen (Hayenga) Jans.  Leona grew up near Sibley, IA where she attended country school and later graduated from Sibley High School.  Leona was united in marriage to Donald L Kruger on March 7, 1951 at the Little Rock Presbyterian Church Parsonage at Little Rock, IA.  They made their home at George, IA for all 69 years of marriage. 

Leona graduated from high school in 1949 and worked retail jobs until she got married. After the wedding, and while raising a family, Leona did laundry for others as well as painting, wallpapering and cleaning jobs. Don & Leona always reminsced about living in the barracks, where they made life-long friends.  Leona worked over 40 years as a CNA at the Good Samaritan Society-George and also was the secretary for the George Vet Clinic for 26 years.

 Leona loved to entertain. Having people to cook and bake for was when she was in her glory. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (and a few spares, of course) and loved to display all of the latest pictures on her walls, bookshelves and hutches. Her faith was strong and she was quick to remind her family that faith in God will see you through anything.  She spent much time with her sisters and cousins and could always be found at one of her favorite annual events, the Little Rock Corn Show.

In January of 2020, Leona joined Don at Good Samaritan Society-George, where they spent their last few months together. Before she became a resident of Good Sam, she was an active member of Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, where she held various offices and could always be counted on to organize a funeral lunch or host a Ladies Aid meeting or bible study.  She enjoyed bowling, square dancing and decorating the floats for the 4^th of July. Leona could make a mean pan of pumpkin bars and always had something mysterious in the freezer she could pull out in a pinch, to feed the many people who stopped for a minute, and stayed for a meal. Family reunions and gatherings were often held at their house and Leona loved every minute of it. Many games of Pinochle or Shanghai were played at her dining room table.

   Leona is survived by their children, Douglas & Marcene Kruger of New Bern, NC; Daryl Kruger of Wichita, KS; Denny & Diane Kruger of Goessel, KS; Lori & Todd Carstensen of George, IA; grandchildren, Jesse & Kim Kruger of New Bern, NC; Matthew & Angie Kruger of Lakeville, MN; Sarah Kruger & friend Kyle Ross of Wichita, KS; Destini & Brice Wilson of Groton, CT; Derek Kruger of Wichita, KS; D'Ambra & Justin Hinsley of Wichita, KS; Dane Kruger of Hays, KS; Brett Carstensen of Schleswig, IA; Taylor & Logan Rus of Sioux Center, IA and Spencer Carstensen of George, IA.  Great-Grandchildren: Hailey McConnell, Sonya Kruger, Logan Kruger, Bella & Leo Wilson; Sisters:  Audrey Julius and Lois (Dan) Marco, both of Sibley, IA; Sister-in-law: Gerry De Berg of Belding, MI. Many others knew her as ‘Granny’, ‘Nonie’ or ‘Tonte Ona’ and they all meant the world to her as well.

     She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Kruger; parents, Andrew & Ellen Jans; son, David Kruger; special cousin and friend, Marilyn Smith, as well as many special brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Blessed Be Her Memory