MARY KRUEGER (KLASSEN)

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MARY KRUEGER (nee KLASSEN) On May 21, 2008 in Altona, our dear mother, grandmother, and sister passed away. Mom was predeceased by her husband Henry in 2005. She is survived by her children, Richard, Ingrid (Mark Pokrant), Hank (Marion), Marlene (Mark, Maranda and Marina) and Robert (Crystal), and grandchildren, Pamela, Amy (Kenneth Frank) and Milan. She was also predeceased by her mother Margaret, father Peter, brothers Peter and John, sisters Margaret and Agnes. She is survived by sisters Helen, Anne, Kathy, Susan, Betty, Gertrude, and Evelyn. Mom was born in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan on July 21, 1928. Raised on a farmstead, she received a great love for God, nature and His feathered creatures that she embraced all her life. The family eventually moved to Manitoba and while working for MTS in Morden, she met Dad, fell in love and they were happily married, settling in Altona. They raised five children and Mom would say the years as a stay-at-home mother were the happiest of her life. The family travelled extensively in the U.S. and Canada, and Mom would always eagerly observe all the local avian species. Over time, Mom turned her large yard into a beautiful bird sanctuary, where she kept extensive track of all the feathered visitors who came throughout the years, including numerous rare species. She became a respected member of the Manitoba birding community, often having other birders, and even journalists, come from across the province to observe an outstanding find, or just to take in the sights and sounds of her beloved Morning Song Bird Sanctuary . Her chronicled birding journals included many interesting, humorous, and poignant stories, which she finally turned into a wonderfully-received book last year. Mom was a blessing and light to everyone she knew and met. She was the epitome of faith, grace, kindness, dignity, and above all, love. She furthered her service to the Lord through participation in the church and choir. Our sorrow can be somewhat tempered by the joy she must now feel at being reunited with the loved ones who left before her. A public viewing will be held at Wiebe's Funeral Home in Altona on Sunday, May 25th from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, May 26th, at the Altona Bergthaler Church, 117-2nd St. NW. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Canadian Bible Society, or the Fort Whyte Nature Centre.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 24, 2008