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KRUGGEL, Kurt 1945 - 2016

KRUGGEL, GRATTIDGE, TAYLOR, JOHNSON, BESSE, GERDES, MOLCHAN, MITCHELL, WISE, COE, SAUNDERS, PETERSON, HENRY

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 10/20/2017 at 21:51:04

Kurt Kruggel was born July 10, 1945 to Louis William Kruggel and Dorothy Mae Grattidge Kruggel in Swaledale, Iowa. He was raised in and around the Ventura and Clear Lake areas graduating from Ventura High School in 1963.

He served in the United States Army, where he trained as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1965-1967. Kurt married Sandra Alice Besse and lived California and in Massachusetts. Kurt returned to Iowa where he trained as a substance abuse counselor working in the Waterloo area and then returned to North Iowa, where he worked for several years for Prairie Ridge Addiction Treatment Center.

Kurt began his career with the North Iowa Department of Correctional Services as a probation parole officer and retired in 2011. After retirement, Kurt worked for the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Mason City. Kurt married Kelly Taylor in 1998.

Kurt had an insatiable curiosity for all things ancient and spent most of his life hunting, collecting and researching ancient stone tools and artifacts. His most recent endeavor was restoring broken or damaged arrowheads to depict the original beauty and craftsmanship of these tools. His work was admired by professionals throughout the United States.

Kurt Kruggel, Burchinal, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2016, at home after a brief and heroic battle with cancer.

Kurt walked a life of great regard for the Creator of all things and followed The Good Red Road, lived a life honoring the Spirit of all things, and was a respected elder in his Spiritual community. Kurt and Kelly kept a sweat lodge at their home for more than 15 years and lived the Life Way of the traditional Dakotah and Lakotah peoples. He Sun Danced for many years on both the Pine Ridge and Santee reservations and conducted many ceremonies to honor God and The People.

Kurt enjoyed historical re-enactment of the fur trade era and made many lifelong friends through his adventures at rendezvous. He took great pride in the period correct clothing and accoutrements he handcrafted. Kurt’s bead, leather and traditional re-creations were meticulous and beautiful.

Kurt loved gardening and for years kept immaculate vegetable gardens both at his home and shared a garden with his Mom, Dot Gerdes. He loved tomatoes and green beans fresh from the garden.

Kurt leaves behind his mother, Dorothy Gerdes, a beautiful blended family with his wife, Kelly Taylor Kruggel, and children, Robert “Robey” and Brooke Kruggel, Piseco, New York, Adam and Lauren Kruggel, Marshfield, Massachusetts, Melissa and Nick Molchan, Rockland, Massachusetts, Rian and Chris Mitchell, Golden Valley, Minnesota, Kyle and Marcy Taylor, Shenandoah, Iowa, Pierson Taylor and Laura Johnson, Nora Springs. His grandchildren, Mason and Robin Kruggel, Anna Kruggel, Devin Wise, Owen and Ava Molchan, Graham Mitchell, Kenton, Malcolm, Odin and Eve Taylor, and Pryor and Harper Taylor.

He is also survived by his sister, Judy Coe, Ventura, brother Ron Gerdes and sister-in-law Susan Saunders, St. Paul, nieces, Megan Coe and Jaime Peterson, Mindy Coe, Mikaela Gerdes, Rose Gerdes and his nephew, Joel Gerdes.

Kurt also recognizes many brothers, sisters and children of choice.

Kurt is preceded in death by his father, Louis William Kruggel, his son, Matthew David Kruggel, his brother-in-law, Don Coe, nephew Michael D. Coe, and brother of choice Scott Henry.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Kurt Kruggel Memorial fund.

Celebration of Kurt’s life will be Tuesday August 2 at 11:00 at his home, 12031 210th Street, Burchinal. Memorial will include ceremonies specific to the Dakotah and Lakotah traditions. Inurnment will be private ceremony at a later date.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, Iowa 50428, 641-357-2193. ColonialChapels.com


 

Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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