Eleanor Marcia Kruger
August 27, 1928 – December 15, 2025
Eleanor Marcia Kruger (nee Kizyma), cherished mother, wife and grandmother, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, at the age of 97. A proud lifelong Clevelander, most recently a resident of Mentor, Ohio, she leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and kindness as evident with all who knew her.
Nothing made Eleanor happier than her family. She was the heart of the home, never missing a birthday and making every holiday feel special. If you visited her, you likely remember the smell of her famous apple pies and pecan tassies—her door was always open to the people she loved.
Eleanor dedicated her life to education. After earning her Master’s degree from Miami University, she spent 30 years with the Cleveland Public Schools—half of that time driving a mobile reading van to share the joy of books with children. She was a voracious reader herself, finishing thousands of books in her lifetime. She even wrote her own stories, leaving behind a beautiful record of her life and history.
Beyond the classroom, Eleanor was active in the Beachland Presbyterian Church Sunday school, as well as her ladies’ bridge and stock investment clubs. She was a frequent visitor to the Chautauqua Institution in New York for theater and cultural events, and a lifelong supporter of charitable and animal welfare foundations.
Eleanor showed us that you don’t have to be loud to be strong. While we will miss her dearly, we feel blessed to have had her in our lives and find peace knowing she accepted Christ and is now with our Lord in heaven.
Eleanor is survived by her beloved son, Carl (Ronelle) Kruger; grandson, Tyler and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Kruger; her daughter, Laura (Pezek) Kruger (survived by companion Jack Shultz); her parents, Stanley Kizyma and Mildred (Baszuk), and her sister, Louise (Kizyma) Cook.
A celebration of life will be planned for the summer, with a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local animal rescue or shelter in her memory.