Viola Kruger

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To Watch the Recorded Service click on this link: https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/134586700

Viola Alma Kruger, our beloved Aunt Vi, passed away peacefully at City Hospital the morning of November 2, 2025 where she had spent a week watching her beautiful prairie skies through the big window in her room. 

Aunt Vi was born October 5, 1928 in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. She talked very fondly of her childhood homes in Rosthern and Waldheim where her father delivered fuel to local farmers and businesses. She loved family gatherings at her grandparents with her cousins. As a youth in Waldheim, she loved skating, curling and track and field. Her lifelong commitment to God and to the Mennonite community was formalized when she was baptized on June 8, 1947. She graduated from Waldheim School the same year and then worked in the Waldheim and Rosthern area until she met and married Isaac Kruger in 1952. Uncle Ike was a schoolteacher, so they lived in teacherages next to the country schools where he taught. 

Uncle Ike's limited eyesight was the reason for their move to Saskatoon in 1956. In Saskatoon, Aunt Vi enrolled in a bookkeeping course. She once shared that she was late enrolling in the course. The instructor told her that she would get no special help to catch up, so she just sat at the back of the class, quietly working by herself until she caught up to the instructor. Quiet determination was a constant in Aunt's Vi life.  Aunt Vi loved her work as an accounting clerk at Sterling Distributors, a hardware wholesaler. 

 Aunt Vi was an excellent driver into her 90s. Aunt Vi and Uncle Ike loved their road trips either to visit family or to travel with their parents or other family members. One of their favorite day trips was a jaunt up to Waskesiu, stopping for breakfast in Prince Albert. 

Aunt Vi and Uncle Ike were active members at First Mennonite Church. Aunt Vi took on the role of treasurer at First Mennonite for many years, finally "retiring" when she was 92. After Uncle Ike's death, she was a faithful visitation deacon who spent many afternoons visiting First Mennonite members who benefitted from her warmth and charm. 

Many friends and family members gathered around Uncle Ike and Aunt Vi's table on Maceachern Avenue. Uncle Ike's witty one-liners and Aunt Vi's graciousness were a combination that couldn't be beat. Aunt Vi's immaculate housekeeping and delicious cooking were only outdone by her beautiful back yard adorned with many gorgeous lilies. Uncle Ike and Aunt Vi were devoted to each other for 49 years of marriage. 

After selling her home on Maceachern Avenue, Aunt Vi moved into a condominium in Willowgrove, which she furnished in a manner consistent with her keen eye for style and taste. During these years, Aunt Vi could have been nicknamed the official senior "Saskatchewanderer" as she loved to explore the many hidden gems of this province. She had the ability to convince Aunt Edna and/or some of her nieces and nephews to join in the fun of these little adventures. It wasn't unusual for Aunt Vi to drive past a small Saskatchewan town and identify that Sterling Distributors supplied the old hardware store in that town. 

As mobility became more of a challenge, Aunt Vi moved to Lutheran Riverside Terrace and finally to Celestial Care Home. Even though her days were often filled with pain, she loved every opportunity to watch her beautiful prairie skies. She remained awed by the fascinating clouds and beautiful sunsets that God created. Despite the many challenges she faced caring for her beloved Ike and dealing with her own health challenges and chronic pain of her last years, her faith in the strength and power of her God never waivered. She found something to be grateful for each day and found comfort singing through her hymnbook before she went to sleep. 

She was predeceased by her loving husband Isaac Kruger; her parents, Jacob and Dora (Schmidt) Epp; her brother Gilbert Epp; and her in-laws Peter and Betty Kruger, Abe and Tina Kruger, Bill and Helen Kruger, Walter Thiessen and Henry Koop. 

She is survived by her sisters Leona Epp (Saskatoon) and Norma Koop (Abbotsford); her sisters-in-law Edna Thiessen (Warman) and Elma Epp (Lanigan); and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews who adored her. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mennonite Central Committee, Saskatoon Food Bank or Saskatoon Friendship Inn. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday November 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Saskatoon Funeral Home and will be livestreamed via the link at the top of this page for those unable to attend.