Jean Ann (Koziolek) Kruger, age 77 of Wells, died Wednesday, September 8, 2021 following complications of a heart attack.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 am Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells, MN with Pastor Donald Rose officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, September 13 from 4-7 pm at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells and one hour prior to services. Please write online stories of Jean at www.BrussHeitner.com so the family can reminisce with you virtually.

Jean was born at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea on December 7, 1943. This was two years after Pearl Harbor and she was nearly named Pearl Barbara! She attended St. Casimir School before graduating in 1961 from Freeborn High School.

She married Gordon Kruger at what is now Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wells on December 28, 1961. They spent nearly every minute of every day together since then. Jean (and Gordie’s) career path included farming, Stokely, The Glass Jar, Carlson Craft, Johnson Outdoors, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and HerdStar.

She enjoyed being with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, working in her 17 flower gardens, putting together puzzles, sewing and painting. She was a creative artist, a trait that she passed down to her children and grandchildren. Jean had a great love of history and was an avid reader. She watched hundreds of her children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s sporting events. She was never without her “Mason jar with a handle” cup of coffee with crème brulee creamer. Jean had a gift for being able to talk to anyone, and people recognized them wherever they went. She was also fantastically funny!

Jean is survived by her husband, Gordon Kruger. Children Terri Kruger, Paula (Dave) Wertjes, Kimberly (Josh Stangler) Kruger, Joel (Trisha Osheim) Kruger, and bonus child Sheila (Al Yaeger) Berg Legried. Grandchildren Kerrick Schindler, Chelcie, Emma and Anna Olson, Jaelyn, Tatum and Logan Stangler, Jordis Kruger, Ashtyn Kruger. Great grandchildren Hayden and Leigha Tolzmann, Willow Farley. Brother Joe Pat Kopecek. Sisters-in-law and brother-in-law Sandy Kruger, Donna and Paul Amundson. Nieces and nephews Patty Kopecek Brandts, Linda Kopecek Kemnitz, Jim Farley, Vicki Amundson and Tom Amundson.

Preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Cecilia (Kuechenmeister Kopecek) Koziolek, sister Janice Koziolek Farley Hilliard and brother Ted Koziolek.