Lorene Grace Kanz Krueger, 95, of New Braunfels, TX passed away on January 12, 2024, at home. Lorene was born on October 14, 1928, in New Braunfels, TX to Erhardt and Melitta Haas Kanz. She grew up in Comal Town and graduated from New Braunfels High School where she played in the Unicorn Band. She loved going to her Oma and Opa Kanz’s ranch on the Guadalupe River and her Oma and Opa Haas’ farm in Hancock. Both families were very musical and widely known for their bands and fine voices.
Lorene married her true love, Karl Krueger on April 10. 1947. They raised three children, Sharon, Karlene and Russel on a farm in Martindale where she had beautiful vegetable and flower gardens. They moved to New Braunfels in 1964 where Karl and Lorene worked at Mission Valley Mills until her retirement in 1984.
Throughout their 71 years of marriage, they did everything together. Hunting, fishing, camping, going to Prairie Lea and the coast were favorite family activities. They loved to go dancing and play cards and dominos with friends and family. Lorene was a typical German mama who enjoyed sewing, cooking, canning, making Christmas cookies and candies, and volunteering at school and church. She was a lifelong member of First Protestant Church in New Braunfels. In her later years, she had such joy with her “grand dogs” and especially her beloved cat, Tigger, who wandered up to the house just after Karl passed. He knew she needed a companion.
Lorene is survived by her three children: Sharon (Barney) Halm, Karlene Krueger, and Russel (Carole) Krueger. She was “Omi” to three living grandchildren: Monica (Preston) Mills, Melissa Halm-Mohammad (Naqi Mohammad) and Matthew (Briannah) Halm. Her great grandchildren include Shyanne Mills, Wyatt Mills, Dakota Mills, Daniel Halm-Mohammad and Hanna Halm-Mohammad. Her great-great grandson is Levi Jay Ramirez. Lorene is also survived by her sister, Patsy (Charles) Meckel, and her many beloved nieces and nephews.
Lorene was preceded in death by her parents Erhardt and Melitta Kanz, her husband Karl William Krueger, brother and wife Goswin and Patsy Kanz, infant granddaughter Kimberly Ruth Krueger, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Roland and Elnora Kraft.
The family wishes to thank Isabel Guerrero and Irene Rivera, her wonderful caregivers, and the staff at Hope Hospice for their love, kindness, and care.
The funeral service will be held 1:00 PM Friday, January 19, 2024 at Zoeller Funeral Home, 615 Landa St, New Braunfels, TX 78130. Interment will follow in Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park. Memorials may be given to First Protestant Church for the music ministry or to Hope Hospice.
