Louise E. Kruithoff 1926 - 2005

KRUITHOFF

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/22/2018 at 10:08:00

Sioux City Journal
14 July 2005

Louise E. Kruithoff, 79, of Sioux City died Saturday, July 9, 2005, at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Care Center, where she had resided since October 1999.

A private family memorial gathering was held. Arrangements were under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff.

Louise was born April 20, 1926, in Sioux City. She contracted polio at the age of 18 months. Her childhood was divided between treatment at the University of Iowa Hospitals and summer months in Sioux City. She lost her left arm to gangrene at age 6. She credited the tough love of her mother, Norma, and stepfather, Clyde Larson, for enabling her to have strength and independence to lead a successful life.

Louise married Kenneth Kruithoff on April 25, 1947. He died Feb. 10, 2001.

Louise worked as a nurse's aide at the former St. Vincent's Hospital and at the Battery during World War II. She was a stay-at-home mom while her girls were young. She became Sioux City's first handicapped 911 operator, answering 911 calls and operating city, county and fire department radios for 15 years. After retiring, Louise worked as a housekeeper at the Belle of Sioux City.

Survivors include two daughters, Teresa and her husband, John Prichard, of Sioux City and Kristine Kruithoff of Sioux City; a granddaughter, Nicole; a brother, Clyde Larson of Colorado; numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews in Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado and California.