Arlene Virginia (Duerksen) Kreier, 90, of Salina, died on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at her home in Salina.
Arleene was born June 7, 1934, to John R. and (Ernabelle) June (Klump) Duerksen in Bessie, Okla. When she was a small child, the family moved to a farm about four miles northwest of Weatherford, Okla. Arleene attended high school in Weatherford and graduated with the class of 1952. She then continued to live at home and rode the school bus into Weatherford to attend and graduated from Southwestern College in 1956 with a Bachelor Degree in Education. Arleene’s first teaching job was at Beeler, Kan., teaching business and home economics. She then taught the same classes at Utica High School. It was during this time that Arleene met, at a high school basketball game, the new young Lutheran minister, Rev. Robert Kreier, from Our Redeemer, in Ness City. The couple married, June 13, 1957, at Arleene’s home congregation, Trinity Lutheran in Clinton, Okla. The family was blessed with two children during this time, David John and Patricia Ann. The family moved to Talmage, Neb. in 1962 and while there the family added a daughter, Kristine Lynn.
While residing in Talmage, Arleene was a member of the Young Homemakers (now Tri-County) Extension Club. In January of 1973 the family moved to the Milberger, Kansas community. She joined the Prairie Mates EHU, continuing to enjoy the women's club as she had in Talmage. It was shortly after this move that Arleene decided to re-enter the workforce. She was hired as the 13th employee at the new TG&Y store located at the newly built Klema Plaza Russell. She also worked at the Russell County courthouse and Keilee’s Restaurant, located in the current S&W building. It was in the early 1980’s that Arleene found her second calling as a CNA, CMA and Activities Director working in Nursing Homes, starting her career at Russell Care Center, now Wheatland. After the kids finished High School in Russell, Bob and Arleene moved to rural Athol, Kansas, where Arleene worked in Smith Center, then in Bellville when they lived in the Courtland area, and finally in Salina, for a few years when they moved there after Bob’s retirement.
She enjoyed all her kids' sports, music, 4-H and church activities, then later her grandkids, even driving two hours to babysit when they were sick and couldn't go to daycare or school. She was a Big 8, Big 12 football and basketball fan, having lived in the region her entire life. As with Bob she enjoyed being able to watch all the games, including the Cubs, Bears, Royals and Chiefs, finally having cable access in retirement. Arleene also enjoyed baking, sewing, knitting and crocheting, making many of her own and the girls’ clothes when she was younger. Later she never missed a craft show, garage sale or an opportunity to collect a cookbook, and having gardened in younger years, always had flowers in pots on the porches and patios of their homes.
Arleene was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, son-in-law, Curtis Mader, and a daughter-in-law, Diane Branning.
She is survived by her daughters, Patrica Ann, Walton, Kan, Kristine Lynn, formerly Russell, Salina. Grandchildren, Donald Brown, Hollie, Chad, Ashley, Tyler, and TJ Kreier-Branning, ZoAnn (Adam Carey) Mader, Hayle (Jackson) Bjornstad, and Emily Mader; 12 great grandchildren and one arriving in March 2025. Her sister, Kay Fry, Oklahoma City, sister-in-law, JoAnn Kreier, and nieces and nephews.
Celebration of Arleene’s Life will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. A private burial will follow the services. The family will be present to greet friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Friday at the Mortuary. A Memorial has been established with St. John Lutheran Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.