Margaret L Kruesi

Margaret Kruesi passed away on March 19, 2021 at the age of 95 in Meridian, Idaho.

Margaret was born in Lafayette Indiana on December 23, 1925 to Howard and Gretchen Heim. She graduated from Purdue University earning a BS in chemistry. With an adventurous spirit and self-confident attitude, Margaret took a job as a chemist at the Hanford Nuclear Site in Richland Washington. There, she joined the Inter-Mountain Alpine Club where she met Frank Kruesi. They enjoyed skiing, hiking and climbed Mt. Adams and Hood. They married in 1950 in Richland Washington. Frank’s work led them to Aiken, South Carolina in 1953. While raising a young family of four children Margaret took private pilot flying lessons, led a scout troop and took art lessons.

The family moved to Delaware in 1969 where Margaret enjoyed a large vegetable garden and teaching her children about plants. She was a dedicated homemaker and brought strong values to her family. Margaret’s devotion to family contributed to Frank’s successful career. Contributions to the community included volunteering at the Winterthur Museum and the Delaware Nature Society teaching school groups about nature.

In 1984 Frank and Margaret retired in Boise, Idaho and enjoyed many years exploring Idaho. Margaret’s interests included hiking, art, observing birds and growing flowers at their Boise home. Frank and Margaret took many trips to Sun Valley where she spent time with her grandchildren and passionately identified alpine wild flowers while hiking in the mountains. She volunteered at the Boise Art Museum and was an active member of the Idaho Watercolor Society.

Margaret is survived by her four children Carol (Paul) Kendall, Frederick (Charlotte) Kruesi, Douglas (Loma) Kruesi, Jane (Gary) Rushane; three grandchildren Mark Kendall, Catherine (Joseph) Zanetti and Erin Kendall; two great-grandchildren Luke and Joshua Zanetti; and her sister Jean Feitshans.

She was preceded in death by two sisters Lydia Heim and Joan Thomasson.