Mary Jean Krueger

Mary Krueger, 81, peacefully passed from this life into the arms of her Heavenly Father on May 14, 2017, surrounded by her family at Hospice Home of Hope.

She was born the daughter Arnold and Lucille (Willett) on Sept, 23, 1935 in Fond du Lac, WI. On Aug. 11, 1956, she married Robert L. Krueger at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Fond du Lac. Together they shared over 60 years of marriage.

Mary attended Empire School, a one-room schoolhouse on 4th Street Road where she got to be quite the baseball player during pickup games at recess. She graduated from Fond du Lac Sr. High School in 1954. After working at the lunch counter at Woolworths, she joined her mother and aunt working at Canvas Products, while managing to raise four children.

Mary will be remembered as someone who liked a good joke, a warm, purring cat, a competitive game of Sheepshead and a Monday night out with the girls bowling. She was a good sport, cooking over a campfire and sweeping sand out of tents during family camping trips – knowing she was making memories with her children.

She became a world traveler in 2004 when she journeyed to China with her son. Not everyone can say they walked on the Great Wall of China and brought home a new granddaughter.

She was an avid supporter of her grandchildren, attending musical and sporting events. And it was with much joy – and talent – that she created heirloom quilts for each of her loved ones.

She eagerly awaited spring to see her songbirds return and take her annual trip out to the local greenhouses to add to her already abundant flower beds.

Mary’s family is forever grateful to God for giving her six additional years of life after being diagnosed with late stage lung cancer in 2011. Even as dementia robbed her of her memories, her love for her family remained steadfast. Our last memories of mom were of her smiling, laughing and teasing.

Mary is survived by four children, Pamela Krueger (special friend Michael Kuechenberg) of Fond du Lac, Judith (Melvin) Krug of Brandon, Colleen (Glen) Kottke of Fond du Lac, Robert Jr. Krueger (Cheryl) of Stoughton.

She is further survived by her grandchildren Eric Klebs, Ripon, Anthony Klebs (and special friend Helena Hroch) of Fond du Lac; Dannielle Krug (special friend Colin Eckerstorfer) of Waupun, Jasmine Krug (fiancé Jacob Umentum) of Waupun; Benjamin (Katie) Kottke, Fond du Lac, Jacob Kottke (special friend Corey Higley) of Lansing, MI, Daniel Kottke (fiancée Lori Janus) of Fond du Lac, Samuel Kottke of Fond du Lac; and Jianna and Calvin Krueger of Stoughton.

She also cherished her great grandchildren Christopher Klebs, Caleb and Emma Kottke, Gage Hassely and Haven Umentum.

She is survived by her husband, Robert, her brother Kenneth (Mary) Steffen of Red Granite and brother-in-law David (Greta) Krueger of Orinoco, MN, and her dearest friend of more than 60 years Shirley Schubert. She is further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends and kind neighbors.



Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Lucille, in-laws Robert W. and Sylvia Krueger, brother-in-law Ronald J. Krueger.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Hospice Home of Hope or St. Jude Children’s Hospital would be appreciated by the family.

A funeral mass will be held at 12 noon Friday, May 19 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 200 S. Peters Ave, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. up until the time of the service. Entombment will be at Chapel of the Risen Christ Mausoleum, Calvary Cemetery.

We would like to express our gratitude to the team at Hospice Home of Hope and staff on 5 West at St. Agnes for the gentle care and dignity they bestowed upon her during her last days.