Delores Jean "Jean" Kroeger

Delores “Jean” Bolen Kroeger passed away January 24, 2013, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in WaKeeney, Kansas. She was born in Sharon Springs, Kansas June 11, 1931, the daughter of Addison Bolen and Zella (Huffman) Dorzweiler. Her father passed away at an early age, but Jean was happily raised in the Ellis, Kansas community with her mother, siblings, and the man she always thought of as “Dad”, Mr. Edwin Dorzweiler. On December 29, 1947, Jean was united in marriage to Ehrenfried “Ernie” Kroeger in Ellis, Kansas. To this union four daughters were born: Sandra, Debra, Wanda and Raelene. Always known as a hard worker, Jean was employed over the years at United Telephone, Hinshaw’s Grocery Store, Dietz IGA, Coast to Coast, Eagle’s Lodge and Dietz Liquor Store. She began her well- deserved retirement in 2006, spending even more time with her family and clubs including her favorites, Christ the King Church Altar Society and the WaKeeney Eagles Auxiliary. Family meant everything to Jean and she was always devoted first to her husband and children and later to her extended family. She was a wonderful friend, always willing to lend a helping hand especially to the young people she met. She was fun-loving and enjoyed bowling. She was a member of the Women’s Bowling League Association and coached youth bowling. She was also compassionate about camping, dancing and square dancing, playing cards, collecting old telephones and Boyd’s Bears, reading, doing word search puzzles, and cross-stitching 32+ quilts for her daughters, grandkids and great-grandkids. Left to cherish Jean’s memory are her husband, Ehrenfried “Ernie” of the home; daughters Sandra Schoenberger (Darrell) of Mankato, Kansas, Debra (Curtis) Eveleigh of Norton, Kansas, Wanda (Gary Lang) Kroeger of WaKeeney, Kansas, and Raelene (Rod) Stoecklein of Garden City, Kansas; brother Edwin “Mike” (Karla) Dorzweiler of North Platte, Nebraska; sisters Adeline Rupp of Lochbie, Colorado, Mary (Chuck) Graham of Tucson, Arizona and Judy (Larry) Stricker of Chester, Virginia; 11 grandchildren, Tonya (Jerot) Pearson, Tracey (Stephanie) Schoenberger, Vickie (David) Greener, Christine (Brian) Thompson, Nicole (Matt) Stevens, Craig Eveleigh, Kami (Jarod) Jamison, Kirk (Sarah Bailey) Lang, Sally (James) Hebb, Amber (Shawn Zimmerman) Stoecklein and Emma Stoecklein; 16 great-grandchildren, Caleb, Zach and Bethany Pearson, Megan, Brianna and Sabrina Schoenberger, Seth and Matthew Greener, Bailey Thompson, Reme Wilson, Natalie, Alex and BreAnna Eveleigh, Ella Jamison, and Jadyn and Paisley Zimmerman. Preceding Jean in death are her parents Addison Bolen and Zella and Edwin Dorzweiler; and sister Irene Walker. Reception: V.F.W.