Esther E. Kruckenberg, 84, Great Bend, passed away early on Sunday morning, Dec. 16 at the Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend. Born on Dec. 19, 1927 in Russell, she was the daughter of Sigmund and Ernestine (Becker) Keil. The family moved to Great Bend in 1940, and she graduated from Great Bend High School in 1945. Esther was united in marriage to Lyman L. Kruckenberg on Dec. 15, 1946 in Larned, and the couple celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary the day before her death. Esther and Lyman continued to make their home in Great Bend up to the time of her death. Esther worked in the laundry at the Great Bend Manor for 19 years, and she enjoyed camping at Lake Wilson and family get-togethers.
Mrs. Kruckenberg was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend.
Survivors include her husband, Lyman L. Kruckenberg of Great Bend; one son, Martin L. and his wife, Melinda, Kruckenberg of Buhler, ; one daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Joe, McLeland of Wichita,; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Melvin, Luther, and Arnold and his wife, Arlene, Keil, all of Great Bend; and one sister, Leona Crotty of Garden City. Esther was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Dr. Lyman “Butch” Kruckenberg Jr. in 2001; one brother, Herbert Keil; and one sister Milda Hopper.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with Pastor James A. Strasen officiating. There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place. The family has asked that memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend or Envision Foundation in Wichita, Kansas.  Online condolences may be left and a full obituary notice may be viewed at http://www.charterfunerals.com/obituary/chgb.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Charter  Funerals**
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Dec. 18, 2012