Irene Krueckeberg, 84 years old of Decatur, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in Woodcrest Nursing Center. She was born on Monday, October 15, 1928 in Stuttgart, Germany the daughter of the late Richard Weber and the late Luzie (Kuhnen) Weber. She married Robert H. Krueckeberg on September 25, 1953 in Stuttgart, Germany. Irene was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and selfless volunteer. A native of Stuttgart, Germany, Decatur resident nearly 60 years. As member of Zion Lutheran, she supported school plays, Vacation Bible School, and Scouts. She loved exercise; she was a tremendous booster of Bellmont Swimming. Many will remember Irene as a cheerful clerk at the former Sears Catalog Store. She cared very deeply about the earth and all its animals. With friends from the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, she traveled across the globe (Australia, Galapagos Islands, Baja California, Africa (twice!). Her grandsons remember her as the best grandma ever! Perhaps Irene's greatest legacy is her many decades of service for the Adams County Unit of the American Cancer Society (awareness and education, yearly fund drive, Daffodil Days, Marathon, Scott's Cancer Day). She has found her lasting peace. Memory of her generous spirit will warm hearts forever! "Man can never be a woman's equal in the spirit of selfless service with which nature has endowed her." Mahatma Gandhi Surviving are her husband, Robert H. Krueckeberg of Decatur; son, Dr. Steven Thomas (Marie "Mimi") Krueckeberg of Mendota Heights, MN; daughter, Deborah Karin (Stan) Shafer of Decatur; sister, Hannelore (Gerhard) Funk of Wiernsheim, Germany; grandson, Samuel Robert (Jess) Krueckeberg of Brooklyn, NY; and grandson, Mathias "Mat" David Krueckeberg of Madison, WI. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2013 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home of Decatur with Pastor Phil Phifer officiating. Burial in Marion National Cemetery. Friends will be received from 3 to 4 p.m., Thursday, April 18 at Woodcrest Porter Auditorium and again from 11 a.m. to the time of service on Friday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur. Preferred memorials are to the American Cancer Society or the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.
