DoLores Mae Greeley

Mankato Mortuary
1001 North Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
(507) 388-2202

DoLores was born May 18, 1927 in Mankato to Ernest and Esther (Weber) Kruggel.  She was baptized, confirmed and married at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Decoria Township.  DoLores passed away on December 10, 2017 at her beautiful home, on the Greeley Farm by Mapleton.

Visitation will be held on December 14, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Mankato Mortuary, 1001 North Riverfront Drive, Mankato.  Private family burial will follow.

DoLores graduated from Mankato High School, Mankato Teachers College, Mankato State College and continued to earn her Master’s Degree in reading education.  Her 45-year teaching career covered many grades and subjects.  She taught summer classes at the University of Winnipeg and was the reading director in Mankato.  DoLores was Minnesota teacher of the year in 1974, and served on many committees and boards.  After moving to Missouri in 1976, she became a school counselor until her retirement in 1992.  She purchased the Greeley Farm and restored the 1892 house and property.  DoLores enjoyed years of volunteering for the church, the Sunday school and as a choir director.  She loved to sew, read, garden, have conversations with family and friends and supporting the Republican party.  As a young girl, she sang and played the guitar with her sister, Shirley, at local events.  She continued to sing at weddings, church services, and funerals often accompanied on the organ by her daughter, Jan.

DoLores met Donald H. Greeley (Bud) at the Kato Ballroom and married in 1948.  They were blessed with daughters, Jannette and Kay.  For 38 years of marriage, she was Bud’s co-pilot in life and in flying to flight breakfasts, for business and vacations finally settling in Missouri where Bud passed in 1986.

As a role model for many, she showed a deep love of family, faith, hard work and compassion.  She will be remembered by her daughters Jan Luthens (Darwin Schwantes) of Cold Spring and Kay Wrucke (Marlin) of Fairmont; grandchildren, Shane, Brandon, Justin (Megan Wickenhauser), Garrett (Melissa) Luthens; Judd (Amber) and Ashley (Brian Schwarzrock) Wrucke; great-grandchildren, Carter, Carson, Scarlett and Sisseton Wrucke, Annabelle, Micah and Milo Luthens.  Memorials may be made to the Decoria Cemetery Association.