George H. Kruckenberg (1937-2020)

KRUCKENBERG, LICHT, BERGDOLT

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/26/2020 at 07:35:26

George H. Kruckenberg, 83, of Lowden, Iowa, passed away at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowden, with the Rev. Daniel Redhage officiating. Visitation will be held from 9 until service time at the church. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

George was born in Lowden, Iowa, on March 22, 1937, one of seven children of Paul and Selma (Licht) Kruckenberg. He was baptized into the Christian faith on April 11, 1937, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran in Lowden on April 2, 1950. He attended Trinity Lutheran School for eight years and graduated from Lowden High School in 1954. In 1956, he attended an electronics school in Kansas City and later opened a radio and TV sales and service business, George's TV, in Lowden. He closed the business in 1960 when he was called to serve in the U.S. Army for two years, with a 13 month tour of duty in Korea. He worked for AT&T in Davenport for a year before joining Univac Corp in 1966, servicing large main frame computers at a government site near Chicago before being transferred to Des Moines in 1973. Univac eventually became Unisys and he retired in 2000 after nearly 34 years with the company. He continued to live for a number of years in West Des Moines after retirement. He was an active member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Des Moines.

George frequently helped his brothers on the farm during the busy planting and harvest seasons. He traveled extensively, having visited all 50 states and 40 foreign countries. His favorite destination was Europe, especially the German speaking countries. Many of his travels were with a Des Moines Volkswalking club, which he was a longtime member. He took great photos of his travels and was happy to share them with family, church groups and in travelogues for the DeWitt Noon Lions Club.

Survivors include brothers, Merlon and Robert of Lowden; sister, Lorna (Waldemar) Bergdolt of Perryville, Mo.; 10 nieces and nephews; and 18 great-nieces and great-nephews. George was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Norbert; sisters, Roberta and Leanne, and her husband, Leonard; and Bonnie, wife of brother, Norbert. Memorials in George's name may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church. Cards may be sent to Robert at P.O. Box 396 Lowden, IA 52255. Chapman Funeral Home has George and the Kruckenberg family in their care. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.chapmanfh.com .