Florence Shirley Evelyn (Rutledge) Kroeger

Florence Shirley Evelyn (Rutledge) Kroeger, 83, Toledo, passed away Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at Overton Funeral Home, 707 Clark Street, Dysart. Burial will be in the Dysart Cemetery. A visitation will be Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, from 4-7 p.m. at the Overton Funeral Home, Dysart.

Florence Shirley Evelyn (Rutledge) Kroeger was born April 24, 1933 in Tama, Iowa, daughter of Theodore and Esther (LaGrange) Rutledge. She was raised and attended schools in Tama. When Florence was 16 years old, she met Russell Gale Kroeger, Sr. The two were married on March 30, 1950 and made their first home in Dysart. They lived in various places throughout Tama County with their family before settling in Toledo in 1966. Florence babysat many other children in addition to caring for her own large family.

She and Russell enjoyed camping, traveling and riding their motorcycle together (despite a few spills, wipeouts and scrapes long the way). They were inseparable. Florence also routinely baked hundreds of dozens of cookies for their friends at motorcycle rallies.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Russell; daughter, Darlene Kroeger; two sisters: Ellen Rutledge (in infancy) and Dorothy Mann; three brothers: Theodore, Carl and Ronnie Rutledge; one granddaughter, Savannah Kroeger; and two sons-in-law, Richard Odem and Owen Catron.

Florence is survived by two sons: Russell (Rose) Kroeger of Des Moines and Kevin (Pamela) Kroeger of Clutier; six daughters: Kathleen (Bruce) Stammer of Traer, Marlene (Edward) Odem of League City, Texas, Lori Odem of Newton, Rebecca (Glen) Gaston of Traer, Lisa (Steven) Wheeler of Gladbrook, and Patricia Catron of Cedar Rapids; two brothers, Frank (Betty) Thorpe of Evansdale and Homer (Barb) Rutledge of Thorndale, TX; 21 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Memorials may be directed to the family.