Carol Kruger
June 29, 1934 - November 22, 2020

Carol Janet Kruger ended her earthly journey on Sunday, November 22, 2020 at St. Mary's hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. She died of natural causes. She was 86 years of age. She was living most recently at Family Roots Eldercare in Plainview, Minnesota, where she had gone to live and be cared for while suffering dementia. The short time she spent there was filled with love and happiness, and children and puppies sitting on her lap, and visits from family. Our family is so glad for her time spent there as she was as happy as we've seen her in months.

She was born on June 29, 1934 in Rochester, Minnesota, to Mildred Irene Campion (nee Gillies) and Harold Campion. They were later divorced and Mildred married Marion Drake whom Carol considered her father. Carol lived her entire life in her beloved city of Rochester, Minnesota. Carol had two siblings. Her sister, Mary Lou Bohlmann, and her brother, David Campion.

Mom graduated from Rochester High School in 1952. Following graduation, she worked at Olmsted Medical Group in Rochester as a Medical Assistant to the doctors at the facility. She developed a special mentorship with Dr. Malcom Campbell who taught her all sorts of medical techniques including how to take an x-ray. During this time mom met her future husband, Paul Alvin Kruger. They were married on January 25th, 1958. As was common at the time, when mom's first child was born (Gunnar) she changed careers and became a homemaker. She remained a homemaker until the 1970's when her children were older. She then added several part-time jobs. She worked at Libby's in the lab and also serving as a medical technician to triage injuries occurring to her fellow employees. She worked for many years at the Rochester State Hospital in the food service department, mostly working in the staff canteen. She later worked in the Mayo Clinic subway at the news stand where her cheerful disposition brightened the day of the many customers she served. She was also thrilled to meet many dignitaries and celebrities even getting Mickey Mantle's autograph (dad's favorite) and ABC Bowling Sportscaster, Chris Schenkel (mom's favorite). Finally, after her children had children of her own, mom chose to care for her grandchildren as grandma daycare. She and dad made sure there was fun and frolic and adventure every day for her grandchildren.

Mom was a lifelong, devoted member of the Congregational Church, UCC., in Rochester, Minnesota. She loved her church family and was very proud to claim 5 generations of her own had been baptized and confirmed at the Congregational Church. She was a regular attendee with her children, grandchildren, and later, grandson Christopher. She was especially known to enthusiastically wave her church program in the air after a performance by children or the choir, a gesture encouraged by an especially favorite pastor, Rev. Diane Harvey.

Our mother was widely known to be a friend to everyone. She seemed to have a knack for developing a special relationship with everyone who knew her. Growing up in Rochester, mom had a large circle of girlfriends who all remain very close to this day. She and dad had a wide circle of friends, as well. She made friends at her work. She was a member of Red Hats. She had a group of ladies who had coffee every Wednesday at Grandma's Kitchen in Rochester. Until she couldn't drive any longer, she was proud to pick up many of her friends for coffee in her Chevy Astro Van. She made friends with all the children in her neighborhood where she was known as grandma Kruger or grandma Carol, or Mrs. Gunnar, or the candy lady (she always had a candy drawer available for any child in the neighborhood!) She made a special bond with many of the teenagers in her neighborhood and was known to sew prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses and even wedding dresses for many of the girls who grew up in her around her. She was a special cheerleader at many of daughter Jennifer's softball games. You could hear her holler at her grandchildren's sporting events. She attended plays with grandson, Christopher. She was an avid bowler and, of course many friendships there, too. She especially was devoted to her family. If you were one of her tribe, you were loved immensely. Lookout anyone who dared harming one of hers.

Mom and dad raised 4 children. Gunnar (Jayne) Kruger, Jennifer Seisler, Suzanne Kruger (special friend Larry Young, recently deceased), and Peter Kruger (deceased). She has 7 grandchildren, Christopher Kruger (whom she raised), Eric (Sarah Pater) Kruger, Nichole Thompson, Jason Kruger, Drew (Rachel Nguyen) Seisler, Colton Seisler, and Amber (Jordan) Andrist. She had 5 beloved great-granddaughters, Alexis, Avery, Leairah, Letty, and Madison.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Bohlmann. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Kruger, her brother David Campion, her parents Mildred and Marion Drake, her grandparents, and her special needs son, Peter Kruger, for whom she and Dad cared for until he was 27 and moved to a foster home in the care of Don and Darlene Ahlstrom.

A funeral has been planned for 10:30 am, Saturday, June 26th, 2021, at The Congregational Church, UCC, in Rochester, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Friday, June 25th, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes in Rochester, Minnesota, and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Masks will be required for services held at the church. Carol's cremains were interred at the Congregational Church columbarium at a previous family service due to Covid 19 restrictions.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Kruger family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com

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