Barbra Kruggel

Barbra M. Kruggel, 84, of St. Joseph, went to be with her Lord on May 2, 2013. The daughter of Christoph Ludwig Schneider and Pauline Rae (Pulsipher) Schneider, Barbra was born November 7, 1928 in Allegan, Michigan. She grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1946 and Eastern Michigan University in 1954 with an Industrial Arts degree. In 1950 she married Roy W. Kruggel, a local sand rabbit, and moved with him to the house at the top of Park Street Bluff in 1960. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday, May 6, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Market St., St. Joseph with Pastor Michael Roth officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd. Memorial contributions may be made to the Krasl Arts Center, Berrien Artist Guild, or Trinity Lutheran Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Barbra may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Never one to sit still, Barbra was an active member of the community, involved in many clubs and organizations worthy of acknowledgement. Her special interests were young people, church and art. She had a special interest in the Girl Scouts and elementary education where she tutored and mentored young people for many years. Her calm and nurturing manner resonated with those she touched. While a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Barbra served faithfully on numerous committees including Altar Guild and funeral committee with a deep compassion and love for others. She taught Sunday School, was a youth leader, and Stephen’s Ministry leader, and spent many years singing soprano with her beloved choir. The other love of Barbra’s life was art, a passion demonstrated through creation of art and by serving the art community in ways unlike any other. She was a longtime member of the Berrien Artist Guild and the Krasl Art Center where she served as the Membership Chair for over two decades. She was Krasl volunteer of the year twice, the only Krasl volunteer to have been so honored. She also served as the Membership Chair for the Box Factory. Additionally, she was well-renowned by local artist for the warm welcome and bountiful buffets served at her annual Open House during Art Fair weekends. Barbra is survived by her five children, Ann (Ted) Thurman of San Antonio, Texas, Babette (Mikel) Smith of St. Joseph, Charles (Cathy) Kruggel of Stevensville, Darla Krejci of Galesburg, Illinois and Dr. Ellen (Jeff White) Kruggel of Caledonia, seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. She is survived also by her brother, Peter (Delores) Schneider of Clark Lake, a vast array of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and other extended family, both natural and ‘adopted’. She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Kruggel, two brothers, Christoph Ludwig Schnieder Jr. (KIA, Korea) and David Roy Schneider.