MARTHA KREEGER

Funeral services for Martha Kreeger, 103, of Wagner, were Monday, July 30, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wagner. Burial was in the ZCBJ Cemetery, rural Wagner. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner was in charge of arrangements. Martha was born September 11, 1914 to Carl and Bessie (Fredrich) Scherer. She joined four brothers: Roy, Carl, Robert and John, and four sisters: Agnes, Winifred, Hattie and Verna. Martha grew up on the Scherer family farm five miles south of Wagner. She attended country school for eight years and Wagner High School graduating in a class of 100 in 1932. She was the only one in her family to graduate from high school. After graduating she worked as a secretary for a teacher at the Greenwood school. On August 17, 1937 Martha married Vernall Kreeger in Norfolk, Nebraska. Their son Leonard was born in 1940 and their daughter Janice followed in 1942. In 1944 they purchased what is now known as the Kreeger family farm located southwest of Ravinia. They remained on their farm until 1972 when they built a home in Wagner. They lived there until 1999 when they moved into the Westside Apartments in Wagner. Vernall died in 2003 and Martha remained at Westside until she moved to the Good Samaritan Center in 2011. She loved her new place and resided there until her death on July 25, 2018, at age 103. Martha was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wagner and has been a symbol of strength and faith for her family and church for over 70 years. Martha had a good sense of humor and a strong will. She was a cancer survivor for nearly 60 years. She enjoyed playing cards, but good luck beating her. She enjoyed reading, quilting especially the bow tie pattern and crocheting. Many lives were touched with the crocheted crosses and doilies that flowed through her fingers with love in each stitch. Martha embraced life with hard work and strong faith. She will continue to be an example to follow, admire and treasure. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Vernall, in 2003, her parents in 1932, all of her brother and sisters, and son- in- law, Dennis Leistra, in 2015. Martha is survived by her son, Leonard, daughter-in-law, Doris, their children Tamra (Clay), Chad (Kathy), Heather (Tim) and Jeremy (Jasmine), and daughter, Janice; 13 great grandchildren, 11 great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Martha was an earthly angel and now one of His heavenly angels forever and He will be pleased.