Obituary for Helen Elsie Kruger
Helen (Zacharias) Kruger passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on February 1, 2023 in Calgary, AB. Helen was predeceased by her devoted husband, William. She is the loving mother of Charles (Linda), Marlene (Tim Wiebe, 2019), Margaret (Michael Harder) and adoring grandmother of Nathan Kruger (Morgan), Daniel Kruger (Manjit), Matthew Kruger (Casey), Emily Wiebe (Mike), Steven Wiebe, Mike Wiebe (Alex), Richard Harder and great granddaughter, Esmae Kruger. Helen was loved by and loved her family dearly. She always made time for family and kept up with everyone’s pursuits.
Helen is also survived by her sister Leona Enns, brother Isaac Zacharias and sisters-in-law Helen Zacharias, Viola Kruger and Edna Thiessen.
Helen was born on August 30, 1934 to Susannah and Isaac Zacharias in Fiske, Saskatchewan. As a child in a German immigrant family from Russia she was deeply grateful for the kindness and acceptance shown by the community. When she was 15, after the tragic death of her older sister Melita, Helen helped her Mom through her grief. This event shaped the course of Helen's life into one of caregiving and compassion for others.
Helen excelled in high school and taught herself to play the piano, later studying with Lyell Gustin in Saskatoon. After graduating at age 16, she was hired to teach in a one room schoolhouse in a small nearby community. She boarded in the teacherage, went home for weekends, and enjoyed her teaching immensely. Helen’s next career was nursing. She graduated from St. Paul's School of Nursing in 1955, receiving the General Proficiency award.
In 1956, Helen travelled to Winnipeg for a prospective student weekend at Canadian Mennonite Bible College: in the carload was Bill Kruger. They bonded instantly and were married in October of the same year. Throughout their marriage Helen and Bill found a common purpose, to serve and strengthen the church through vision and loving kindness. For their honeymoon they drove to North Newton, Kansas, where they studied at Bethel College. There, Helen found freedom and acceptance for women in leadership. She continued her education, along with Bill, at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, earning her Masters of Religious Education. Chuck was born in Newton, Kansas and Marlene in Elkhart, Indiana.
After graduating from AMBS, Helen and Bill moved to Rosthern, Saskatchewan where they both taught and Helen was dean of women at Rosthern Junior College. Helen formed deep bonds with the students, supporting and encouraging them. Margaret was welcomed to the family in Rosthern.
In 1965 Helen and Bill moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Bill served as Principal at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate. While in Winnipeg Helen began her graduate level education. Over the next decade, while parenting their three children, Helen completed Master’s Degrees in English and German. In 1996 she completed a Master of Divinity degree at AMBS and in 2008 was awarded the AMBS Alumni Ministry and Service Award.
Bill and Helen moved to Kitchener, Ontario in 1972 where Bill served as Principal and Helen taught English, German and Religious Studies at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. Helen also taught German at University of Waterloo. As well, Helen helped plant the seeds that began the Rockway Mennonite Collegiate Thrift Shop.
Helen was an active leader in the local and global Mennonite church. She wrote Sunday School curriculum for the Foundation Series for the General Conference of Mennonites. She served as the first woman on the boards of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Conference of Mennonites of Saskatchewan. She was also the first woman to serve on the Mennonite World Conference, a position for which she travelled to meetings worldwide.
In 1991 Bill and Helen retired from Rockway and moved to Osler, Saskatchewan where Bill served as pastor of Osler Mennonite Church and Helen spent some time exploring her next steps. She studied with the Institute of Children’s Literature and wrote several children’s stories, many about the life of immigrant children on the prairies. However, spiritual care ministry is where Helen found her calling. She entered the Spiritual Care program at St. Paul's Hospital, Saskatoon, which included a chaplaincy placement at Foothills Hospital in Calgary. In 1995, Helen was ordained in the Osler Mennonite Church as part of her ministry. Helen, a gifted, intelligent, kind and wise caregiver, walked alongside people as they healed.
In 2001, Helen obtained her Teaching Supervisor Certificate from Canadian Association of Practical Pastoral Education (CAPPE). She was one of the first women to serve in this role. For several years she taught Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Paul’s Hospital. Helen stepped down from this role after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Over the next few years Helen had more bouts with cancer, but, thankfully, excellent health care made it possible for her to continue living a full life.
Together, Bill and Helen also served as interim co-pastors at Foothills Mennonite Church, Calgary; Mount Royal Mennonite Church, Saskatoon; and Zion Mennonite Church, Swift Current. Helen and Bill thoroughly enjoyed their partnership in ministry which, like all of their shared endeavours, modelled a team approach. Helen shared that she and Bill never fought, they always worked things out mutually.
Bill, the love of Helen's life, passed in 2020. Helen missed Bill deeply. With her usual wisdom, Helen said that she welcomed the pain she felt from being without Bill because it reminded her of what they had and kept him close to her.
Helen lived with memory loss for several years before Bill's death. According to their wishes, after Bill passed, Helen moved to Calgary where she lived with Margaret and her family for five months before moving into a nearby care home. Margaret was a loving and capable caregiver and advocate for Helen. While Helen showed seemingly unending resilience in adjusting to her new living situation, having lived a life of service, she wondered what her current life purpose was. She continued to enrich the lives of those who had the privilege to know her. The staff and residents at Rocky Ridge Retirement Community often remarked on what a wonderful, sweet, appreciative person Helen was and what a pleasure it was to interact with her. Her piano playing was also appreciated. Helen’s family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care Helen received at Rocky Ridge Retirement Community.
Helen was an exceptional and respected teacher, nurse, scholar, writer, musician, chaplain and minister. Her courageous leadership helped open doors for women to serve as leaders in the church. She was an empathetic and intuitive mentor to many. Those who knew her were uplifted by her unconditional loving kindness, wisdom and keen sense of justice.
Helen’s family will miss her immensely but are comforted knowing that she is now reunited with Bill and other family members.
A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 3:00 pm at Osler Mennonite Church (212 2nd Ave, Osler, SK S0K 3A0) with Patty Friesen and Patrick Preheim officiating. For those who are not able to attend, the service will be live streamed at this link Osler Mennonite Church Livestream.
A Private Family Committal will have taken place. In Helen’s memory, donations may be made to Rosthern Junior College or Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Helen, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
Helen is also survived by her sister Leona Enns, brother Isaac Zacharias and sisters-in-law Helen Zacharias, Viola Kruger and Edna Thiessen.
Helen was born on August 30, 1934 to Susannah and Isaac Zacharias in Fiske, Saskatchewan. As a child in a German immigrant family from Russia she was deeply grateful for the kindness and acceptance shown by the community. When she was 15, after the tragic death of her older sister Melita, Helen helped her Mom through her grief. This event shaped the course of Helen's life into one of caregiving and compassion for others.
Helen excelled in high school and taught herself to play the piano, later studying with Lyell Gustin in Saskatoon. After graduating at age 16, she was hired to teach in a one room schoolhouse in a small nearby community. She boarded in the teacherage, went home for weekends, and enjoyed her teaching immensely. Helen’s next career was nursing. She graduated from St. Paul's School of Nursing in 1955, receiving the General Proficiency award.
In 1956, Helen travelled to Winnipeg for a prospective student weekend at Canadian Mennonite Bible College: in the carload was Bill Kruger. They bonded instantly and were married in October of the same year. Throughout their marriage Helen and Bill found a common purpose, to serve and strengthen the church through vision and loving kindness. For their honeymoon they drove to North Newton, Kansas, where they studied at Bethel College. There, Helen found freedom and acceptance for women in leadership. She continued her education, along with Bill, at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Indiana, earning her Masters of Religious Education. Chuck was born in Newton, Kansas and Marlene in Elkhart, Indiana.
After graduating from AMBS, Helen and Bill moved to Rosthern, Saskatchewan where they both taught and Helen was dean of women at Rosthern Junior College. Helen formed deep bonds with the students, supporting and encouraging them. Margaret was welcomed to the family in Rosthern.
In 1965 Helen and Bill moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Bill served as Principal at Westgate Mennonite Collegiate. While in Winnipeg Helen began her graduate level education. Over the next decade, while parenting their three children, Helen completed Master’s Degrees in English and German. In 1996 she completed a Master of Divinity degree at AMBS and in 2008 was awarded the AMBS Alumni Ministry and Service Award.
Bill and Helen moved to Kitchener, Ontario in 1972 where Bill served as Principal and Helen taught English, German and Religious Studies at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. Helen also taught German at University of Waterloo. As well, Helen helped plant the seeds that began the Rockway Mennonite Collegiate Thrift Shop.
Helen was an active leader in the local and global Mennonite church. She wrote Sunday School curriculum for the Foundation Series for the General Conference of Mennonites. She served as the first woman on the boards of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Conference of Mennonites of Saskatchewan. She was also the first woman to serve on the Mennonite World Conference, a position for which she travelled to meetings worldwide.
In 1991 Bill and Helen retired from Rockway and moved to Osler, Saskatchewan where Bill served as pastor of Osler Mennonite Church and Helen spent some time exploring her next steps. She studied with the Institute of Children’s Literature and wrote several children’s stories, many about the life of immigrant children on the prairies. However, spiritual care ministry is where Helen found her calling. She entered the Spiritual Care program at St. Paul's Hospital, Saskatoon, which included a chaplaincy placement at Foothills Hospital in Calgary. In 1995, Helen was ordained in the Osler Mennonite Church as part of her ministry. Helen, a gifted, intelligent, kind and wise caregiver, walked alongside people as they healed.
In 2001, Helen obtained her Teaching Supervisor Certificate from Canadian Association of Practical Pastoral Education (CAPPE). She was one of the first women to serve in this role. For several years she taught Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Paul’s Hospital. Helen stepped down from this role after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Over the next few years Helen had more bouts with cancer, but, thankfully, excellent health care made it possible for her to continue living a full life.
Together, Bill and Helen also served as interim co-pastors at Foothills Mennonite Church, Calgary; Mount Royal Mennonite Church, Saskatoon; and Zion Mennonite Church, Swift Current. Helen and Bill thoroughly enjoyed their partnership in ministry which, like all of their shared endeavours, modelled a team approach. Helen shared that she and Bill never fought, they always worked things out mutually.
Bill, the love of Helen's life, passed in 2020. Helen missed Bill deeply. With her usual wisdom, Helen said that she welcomed the pain she felt from being without Bill because it reminded her of what they had and kept him close to her.
Helen lived with memory loss for several years before Bill's death. According to their wishes, after Bill passed, Helen moved to Calgary where she lived with Margaret and her family for five months before moving into a nearby care home. Margaret was a loving and capable caregiver and advocate for Helen. While Helen showed seemingly unending resilience in adjusting to her new living situation, having lived a life of service, she wondered what her current life purpose was. She continued to enrich the lives of those who had the privilege to know her. The staff and residents at Rocky Ridge Retirement Community often remarked on what a wonderful, sweet, appreciative person Helen was and what a pleasure it was to interact with her. Her piano playing was also appreciated. Helen’s family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care Helen received at Rocky Ridge Retirement Community.
Helen was an exceptional and respected teacher, nurse, scholar, writer, musician, chaplain and minister. Her courageous leadership helped open doors for women to serve as leaders in the church. She was an empathetic and intuitive mentor to many. Those who knew her were uplifted by her unconditional loving kindness, wisdom and keen sense of justice.
Helen’s family will miss her immensely but are comforted knowing that she is now reunited with Bill and other family members.
A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 3:00 pm at Osler Mennonite Church (212 2nd Ave, Osler, SK S0K 3A0) with Patty Friesen and Patrick Preheim officiating. For those who are not able to attend, the service will be live streamed at this link Osler Mennonite Church Livestream.
A Private Family Committal will have taken place. In Helen’s memory, donations may be made to Rosthern Junior College or Rockway Mennonite Collegiate. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Helen, please visit www.choicememorial.com.