Obituary of Lilly KRUEGER (nee Riethmuller)

October 11, 1933 – Fuerstenfeld, Bessarabia, Romania
May 9, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Lilly Krueger, beloved wife of the late Eduard Krueger, of Calgary, Alberta, passed away on Sunday, May 9, 2021 at the age of 87 years.

Lilly was born in Fuerstenfeld, Bessarabia, Romania on October 11, 1933.  Circumstances of WWII caused Lilly and her family to live briefly in Austria, Poland, and Germany.  She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1948 and initially settled in Trochu, Alberta, where she worked at a nearby farm, in a local diner as a cook, as well helped care for her younger sister after their mother died unexpectedly.  

She moved to Calgary a few years later and lived in Bridgeland near St. Matthew Lutheran Church where she regularly worshipped and joined its choir.  It was through the choir that she met her husband Eduard Martin Krueger. They married in 1957 and remained members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.

Lilly and Eduard built their first home in northwest Calgary where they raised their three children. Later they built a home on their acreage northeast of Calgary that included various animals, huge yard, and garden.  In 2000, when Eduard predeceased Lilly, she returned to Calgary and indulged her desire to travel by visiting the Panama Canal, Germany, and St. Petersburg. 

The last six months of Lilly’s life was spent at Bow View Manor and Cambridge Manor. The family thanks the caring staff at both facilities.

Lilly worked various jobs while she lived in Calgary; first for laundry services, then meat processing companies, and for the Calgary Board of Education.

She was well known among her family for her family dinners, gardening, canning, baking, embroidery, and knitting, including socks that were favourites among her children and grandchildren. Family was always first throughout Lilly’s life, along with an abiding faith in God. Lilly’s Confirmation verse was Psalm 23, verse 1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.”

Lilly is survived by her daughters, Karen (Joe Felder) of Bluffton, Alberta, Heidi (Roger Zavagnin) of Calgary, Alberta; and son Brent (Karen Bryce) of Winnipeg, Manitoba; grandchildren, Sepp (Maria), Tony (Rebekah), Robert (Cassidy), Melissa, Markus (Ronette), Dana, David, Noah, Nathaniel, Amelia, Tomas; and great-grandchildren, Avia, Morgan, Ember, Aralynn, Felix, Dominic. She is also survived by her sister Lore Hewson and sister-in-law Liselotte Kraus, both of Calgary, Alberta, and well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Lilly was predeceased by her husband Eduard, parents, Gustav and Christiana Riethmuller, sisters and brothers-in-law, Alide and Irvine Braun, Adeline and Wilhelm Wunder; brother-in-law Alfred Kraus; sister-in-law Rosemarie Hladich; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lieselotte and Donald Spielman.

A Funeral Service will be held at a later date when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Lilly’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to St. Matthew Lutheran Church (66 – 7th Street NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 4B7).

In living memory of Lilly Krueger, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.
 

Lilly's memorial card can be viewed using this link