Shirley E. Krueger

Obituary

Shirley Ethel Moeck Krueger was born on January 27, 1922, in Redmond, Oregon, first child of John and Roxie (Morris) Moeck. Shirley loved school and attended her “beloved Kenwood School” in Bend, Oregon, for grades 1-6.  Her family moved to The Dalles, Oregon, for one year, then returned to Bend in 1934.  Shirley learned the value of hard work helping in her dad’s store. Her enjoyment of music led Shirley to become an accomplished pianist and vocalist, passing rigorous exams along the way. Shirley graduated from Bend H.S. in 1940.  Subsequently, she began her studies as a dietician at Oregon State College in Corvallis.

Shirley met her future husband, Albert Krueger, in her church choir. Soon he was hired by Shirley’s father to work as a meat cutter in his business, the Columbia Meat Market.  Both Shirley and Albert shared a love of music.  With Albert’s WWII deployment uncertain, they were united in marriage on March 21, 1942, in San Francisco, California, while Albert was on a brief leave from Camp Roberts.  After their marriage, Shirley would join Albert near Camp Roberts (Paso Robles, California), Fort Leonard Wood (near Lebanon, Missouri) and Fort Hood (Waco, Texas).  While in California, Shirley worked as a telephone switchboard operator and clerk in a dress shop.

Shirley and Albert were devoted to each other for 63 years of marriage. Son, Paul, was born in 1945, while Albert was still in active duty.  Following his discharge, they lived briefly in Bend before returning to Minnesota to pursue Al’s love of dairy farming.  They eventually settled on a farm near Highway 22, halfway between Hutchinson and Litchfield.   During this time, their marriage was blessed with three more children:  Mark, Julie and Janet.  After raising their family, and more than 30 years of farming, Albert retired from milking which freed them for more travel around the U.S. They enjoyed spiritual retreats at Trout Lake and annually they would take circuitous road trips to Oregon in order to visit Shirley’s family.  The Lewis and Clark trail was one of Shirley’s favorites, as her family “went west” along that route.

In 1994 they sold the farm and moved to the Village Cooperative in Hutchinson, where they enjoyed residing for the next 11 years. Fall of 2005 found them moving to Shakopee to a supportive living environment closer to their children. 

Shirley and Albert were gifted musicians, singing duets in the churches they attended, as well as weddings and funerals in the area.  Shirley was also a choir member, Sunday school teacher, and participated in other needed roles in the church.  In Hutchinson, they were faithful members of Northside Baptist and Franklin St. Baptist which became Shalom Baptist church. Sponsoring missions outreach was a priority for them also.

Exposing her children to various cultural and educational events was very important to Shirley.  She would plan family excursions to the Swedish Institute, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and annually to Orchestra Hall (to hear Handel’s Messiah).  There were weekly visits to the Hutchinson or Litchfield libraries to replenish books.

Shirley loved to read, and had a fantastic memory for detail.  She would learn about the wildflowers, trees, and geology of areas she lived and traveled through.  She was an excellent cook, and a good seamstress.  Shirley also had a penchant for remembering extended family birthdays, and only in her late 90’s did she begin to need a list for all the great-grandchildren.  Nurturing grandchildren was a very large part of her life.  She and Albert were there for events, babysitting, and family support whenever needed.  In her later years, Shirley happily shared many stories and celebrations with her great-grandchildren as well.

After Albert passed away in 2005, Shirley continued to live at the Gardens at St. Gertrude’s until 2019 when she needed more assistance and so transitioned to long-term care at St. Gertrude’s. While at the Gardens, she constantly “read” an incredible variety of audiobooks, provided by the State Services for the Blind. 
On August 15, 2020, Shirley passed away peacefully at St. Gertrude’s in Shakopee at the age of 98 years.

Shirley is survived by her:
Children, Paul Krueger and wife Becky,
    Mark Krueger and wife Sherrie,
    Julie Gerlitz and husband James,
    Janet Wendt and husband Richard;
Grandchildren, Shannon (Jeff) Streich, Kelly (Jeremy) Voelker, Brent (Kim) Krueger, Lindsey (Eric) Bergstrom, Matthew (Carolyn) Krueger, Amanda (Randy) Wanke, Michael (Erin) Krueger, Carolyn (Rick) Brown, Nathan Webb, Zachary (Jennifer) Wendt, and Meghan Wendt;
25 Great-grandchildren;
Sister-in-law, Molly Miller;
Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and friends.