Marie T. (Stafford) Kruger

Marie T. Kruger, 58, of Plainview, MN and Jacksonville, NC, died Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at her home in Jacksonville, NC.

Marie was born May 18, 1962 in Rochester, MN, to Fred and Theresa (Kane) Stafford. Marie graduated from Elgin High School in 1980. Marie married Gerard Kruger on May 30, 1981, and had their daughter Cassie in 1983, and Michaela in 1987.

Marie and Gerard moved to Plainview in 1988 and she provided daycare for several years. In 1991, she opened her flower shop, Marie’s Ribbons and Roses. Marie was well known in the community during the 20+ years she had the store.  In 2011, Marie sold the store and moved to North Carolina to be close to her granddaughters; Marie continued doing floristry through an online business, and spent her remaining years traveling back and forth between North Carolina and Minnesota to be with her grandkids, friends and family.

Marie had a wild spirit and was known as the life of the party. Her pranks, fun loving personality, and general spunk will be remembered by many. She could make any situation a good time with her positive and playful energy and as many say, “If you didn’t have fun while you were with her, it was your own damn fault!” Marie thoroughly enjoyed and prioritized spending time with her grandchildren; she took them on countless adventures and called herself “no rules Grandma”, encouraging the kids to be themselves and have a wild and free time when they were with her. Marie was incredibly selfless and generous. She always put others before herself and did anything she could to help anyone in need.  

Survivors include her life partner, Gerard Kruger, daughters Cassie (Jed) Zwifelhofer, and Michaela (Shane) Heinrich; granddaughters Ariana and Madelyn Zwifelhofer, and grandsons Adler and Fletcher Heinrich; sisters Janice Stafford and Kathy Scruggs; stepmother Marie Stafford; and countless friends and family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Theresa Stafford, brother Joe Stafford, mother-in-law Dorothy Kruger, and father-in-law George Kruger.

There will be a private funeral service for family held on Thursday, April 29 at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church, with Rev. William Becker officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.

Schad & Zabel Funeral Home, 57 Third St. SW, Plainview, MN, 55964, 507-534-2003, Schadandzabelfuneralhomes.com.

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