Judith Marie Krieger

Warm, kind, compassionate, generous, wise, trustworthy, reliable, ethical, vibrant, spunky, stubborn, independent, tenacious, extraordinary, amazing, inspiring - these are the qualities that Judy embodied that will remain in our memories of her forever. 

Judith Marie was born to Beatrice (Rossenbach) and Howard Petre on May 17, 1940, in Rochester, NY. The family settled in East Aurora, NY, in 1946, where Judy spent the rest of her childhood years with her siblings Gretchen, David, and Barbara. She loved school, and her intelligence made it easy for her to succeed; she became a member of the National Honor Society and won a scholarship to D’Youville College in Buffalo. Her exploratory nature had her rambling all around her hometown as she spent time with local friends and family; being welcomed into the homes of others and feeling like part of the family was a quality that she would emulate in her later years. 

Her wandering spirit led her to leave New York on the last day of 1959 and start the new decade in Chicago, where she met Kenny Krieger, the Colorado farm boy who would keep her heart for the rest of her life. They married on October 15, 1960, and set up their first home together in Longmont, CO, shortly thereafter. Over the next several years, they welcomed their children Mary Therese, Jeff, Lisa, and Chuck, and relocated to Berthoud in 1968. 

Managing the household and working to supplement the family’s income kept her very busy during the years her children were growing. Judy’s various jobs through the years included working at a fabric store (she was an excellent seamstress, knitter, and crocheter), at an insurance agency, and in various accounting roles. She volunteered at a crisis line, and with St. Matt’s Medical Clinic for more than a decade. She also co-owned a laundry business for some time, which her granddaughters would often visit, reading the books in the kids’ corner and drinking the lemonade from the vending machine while she ironed and folded. While she and Kenny sometimes struggled to make ends meet, and though her patience and energy were often worn thin, she strenuously loved and supported her family. They were her greatest joy. 

While she cared enormously for her family, she was equally diligent at cultivating enduring friendships. There were many people that she kept in touch with over the years - she collected friends from kindergarten and beyond, keeping many of those friends through her last days. Her home was a place where family, friends, neighbors, and others from the community could come and be welcomed, often with tea (hot or iced, as you preferred) and a long conversation. 

Books and music were her constant non-human companions. She was a voracious reader throughout her life, and in later years was never without an audiobook as she worked through her chores or puzzles. Her literary bent enabled her to be highly skilled at crosswords and crostics, as well. In her youth, she played the cello, taking private lessons and performing in the school orchestra and as a member of a string quartet. Her lovely singing voice graced the school choir, and she harmonized with her friends in the barbershop groups Aurorabelles and Quintones. She loved listening to Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, John Denver, and many others with understandable song lyrics being of primary importance. Her appreciation of music was inculcated in her children. Even if they each have developed their own tastes, like for their mother, music is often accompanying them as they go through their days. 

While she loved being home, her wanderlust occasionally took her on far-flung adventures. Judy loved road trips with Kenny, and they drove numerous times to western New York, stopping on the way to visit friends, family, or just some interesting thing that one of them wanted to see. They also traveled to Great Britain and Iceland together, and she toured Italy with a friend. She always came back full of stories and wonder for all the things she learned and saw, and appreciation for the people she met. 

On September 5, at age 84, Judy journeyed to the next unknowable adventure, her physical heart giving out long before her spirit had exhausted its supply of love. We will miss her immensely. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Krieger, and her sisters Gretchen Smith and Barbara Moon. She is survived by her children Mary (Tim) Gorman of Berthoud, Jeff (Chandra) Krieger of Loveland, Lisa Schramma of Loveland, Chuck (Kris) Krieger of Berthoud; brother David Petre of Dania, Florida; granddaughters Jocelyn Powell, Caitlin Hummel, Erica Schramma, Kelsey Schramma, Kendall Krieger, Jacie Krieger; greatgrandchildren Samantha Sorenson, Aspen Hummel, and Rowan Hummel; as well as dear in-laws, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a wealth of friends. Cremation has been completed. 

Memorial Service will be held Saturday, October 19, 2 p.m., at Casa Sagrada, 404 E 3rd St, Loveland, CO.

Consider donations in Judy’s memory to: 

World Central Kitchen, Attn: Donor Services Team 

PO Box 96538 

Washington DC 20090-6538 

https://wck.org/donate 

Or 

Friends of the Berthoud Community Library 

236 Welch Ave 

Berthoud CO 80513 

https://www.bclfriends.org/support-us