Sara Krueger

Who knew that 102 years ago, on March 16 in 1923, a little girl named Sara would be born in Kleinstadt, near Altona, Manitoba. She had 5 big brothers and though a sister would have been nice, those 5 big brothers and she were closely connected all of their lives. Her life was influenced by her farm-oriented mom and dad. Her dad also tin-smithed while her mom made a home for 8 people.

Sara's work ethic was honed on her family farm, and she loved farming. Years later she could still recall all the details of how farm life functioned, and also she remembered small joys like the taste of the first bread her mother baked each summertime in the outside ovens. Her schooling was in a single-room schoolhouse in Kleinstadt. After a teenage decision to dedicate her life to Jesus, church and evangelism became central in her life.

The Hochstadt Gospel Quartet became important to her not only because her brothers sang in it, but also because of the bass singer, Ben Krueger. Imagine her brothers' surprise when Ben came to the farm to visit not them but their little sister Sara. Some thought Sara and Ben had an uncertain future, because Ben had contracted tuberculosis. But Sara and Ben believed that God had brought them together, and they married in 1945. They enjoyed a beautiful 47-year marriage until Ben's death in 1992.

Ben and Sara were a duet, and from the Ben and Sara duet came a quartet when their 2 daughters, Alda and Frieda, were born. In time the quartet became a choir. Alda married Waldo and Frieda married Uly, and Sara had had 4 beloved grandchildren and 7 beloved great-grandchildren (Kim, Ally and Merrin; Andi, Jeff, Delaney, Eric and Tessa; Rachel and Denis; Jonathan, Mei, Niels and Reece). Ben and Sara's legacy of kindness, generosity, hard work, and laughter is reflected in their family's values.

If Sara had been born in 2023 instead of 1923, she might have been an engineer or mathematician. She was whip-smart, excellent with numbers and spatial reasoning, and a creative and persistent problem-solver. As it was, Sara didn't allow her grade 8 education to hold her back. She simply taught herself shopkeeping, bookkeeping, and churching whilst running her household and raising her family.

Sara's incredible energy and strength were legendary. And after losing her driver's license at only 99 years old, she just refocused her energies on advising others on the art of shopping, landscaping, snow shoveling and leaf-raking according to her instructions (also legendary). Fiercely independent, she wasn't shy about making final decisions as to her health, finances, and home. However, her independence was maintained through her community of supporters. This group of beloved people included neighbours, friends, and family, and homecare nurses and aids who became like family. We recognize with gratitude this gift she was given through their love and support, and want to thank her neighbours Wes and Deb Friesen, as well as her nieces and nephews, Ruth and Ed Siemens and Esther and Laverne Wiebe.

102 and 3/4 years was not enough time for us to spend with Sara. She will be profoundly missed.

A celebration of Sara's life will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the South Park MB Church. A private interment will take place at a later date at the Hochstadt Cemetery. Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home Altona on Wednesday, January 14, from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Donations in memory of Sara may be made to Diabetes Canada.