Helen Kroger

Helen L Kroger, 102, of Maquoketa, formerly of Elwood, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2025, at Clover Ridge Care Center in Maquoketa.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at Dawson Funeral Services in Maquoketa, where her service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Elwood Cemetery.

Helen Louise was born on April 2, 1922, to Almond "Al" and Florence (Sadler) Creger on the farm in rural Elwood. She graduated from Elwood Consolidated High School in 1940 and attended Iowa State University, where she met her future husband. On November 27, 1941, she was united in marriage to Harlan Kroger in Waynesville, Missouri. After their wedding, they moved to Fort Leonard Wood while her husband was in basic training. Harlan served overseas for four years during WWII, and during that time, Helen worked as a bookkeeper in several Maquoketa businesses. Once Harlan returned home, they settled on a farm near Delmar and had two daughters: Delores (Garold) Wilson and Darlene Christiansen.

Helen was involved in various groups including W.S.C.S, Homemakers, Farm Bureau Women, and several card clubs. She taught Sunday School at Elwood United Methodist Church and sang in the church choir. In her earlier years, she served as a 4-H Leader. Always an active participant in farm life, she was a devoted mother who enjoyed knitting, crocheting, embroidering, and was an excellent seamstress. Helen spent many hours in the garden, canning and freezing the produce, as well as making and freezing apple pies from their orchard. She enjoyed reading until her eyesight began to decline. In her late 80s and early 90s, she crocheted nearly 80 baby sweaters in one year to be donated to Maquoketa United Methodist Church for those in need.

Helen is survived by her loving family: two daughters, Delores (Garold) Wilson and Darlene Christiansen; five grandchildren, Chad (Sally Jo) Christiansen, Kristine (Ed) Huenemann, Greg (Kara) Wilson, Scott Wilson, and Nicole Wingate; and five great-grandchildren, Riley and Katie Christiansen, Natalie Huenemann, and Jace and Logan Wingate.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harlan, son-in-law Ron, and grandson-in-law Jon.

In honor of Helen's legacy, memorial contributions may be made to Clover Ridge Care Center or Hospice of Jackson County. Online condolences can be shared at www.dawsonfuneral.com, and cards can be sent to Dawson Funeral Services, Attn: Helen Kroger Family, PO Box 258, Wyoming, Iowa 52362.

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