Jan Krueger

Jan Fruin Krueger of Portage, Michigan, born on December 10, 1941 to the loving family of LaVerne and Emily Fruin, and sister Anne, died July 28, 2026.

She had fond memories living in the country on the Fruin homestead - nestled between her Grampa Kipp's (Clara Lockwood) farm, and the Myron Avery Sr. farm on Verona Rd. (Marshall, MI). Many stories of tagging behind her Grampa Kipp as he worked the land with his team of horses, milked cows, fed pigs, collected eggs, churned butter, and made bread. In 1952, new neighbors, the Avery family, brought ponies/horses into her life and Palomino "Pal"! Corlinda and Jan rode from sunup to sundown and highlights were horse shows, barrel racing, 4-H, Marshall Fair, and the State Fair. Jan loved to dance! First ballet, acrobat with Avery family from square dances, to 'Tennis Court' dances.

As a teen, Jan wrote feature articles for the Battle Creek "Enquirer" News. Later, as a teacher, she wrote for local newspapers and publications about her students' activities. Jan graduated, in the class of 1959, from Marshall High School. She attended Eastern Michigan University, where she became actively involved in Student Government. Elected to Student Council, Inter-hall Council, Advisory Board for Student Affairs, President of Jones Hall, Sigma Mu Phi sorority, and initiated mentoring for transfer students. She graduated in 1963 with her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and was united in marriage to Arnold Rustenholtz (Butch). In that marriage (1963–1985) they were blessed with three children; sons Brett, Kipp, and daughter Kelly. Jan was a very loving and nurturing mother.

In Albion (Mrs. Jan) taught kindergarten at Dalrymple-Harrington Schools. Jan & Butch moved to Kalamazoo in 1965 where she taught Head Start at Lincoln Elementary until 1967. The Rustenholtz family moved to Portage in 1976 where Jan taught at Haverhill and Amberly schools and received her MA from WMU.

In 1981, many teachers, and Jan were "Pink-slipped." Jan started a support group for laid-off teachers. She took extensive training (M.S.U.) in Crisis Guidance/Counseling. Jan trained and volunteered at Gryphon Place crisis lines, Citizen's Probation Authority where she mentored teenage/adult women who were first offenders with the law, trained initial group of students' peer listening at Kalamazoo South Jr. High, lead group facilitator for WMU Rape Crisis-line, taught active listening to AAUW, and was a member of "Gatekeepers"; an 'active listener' in a community who others seek out to speak in confidentiality. Jan was a photographer! Recording her family's history and celebrations through the pictures she took. From 1983–1985 Jan taught at Red Arrow School in Hartford.

In 1985 Jan, one of the 'pink-slipped' teachers, was recalled by Portage Public Schools to teach Title I at Lake Center Elementary. At a singles dance on February 14, 1987, Jan met her handsome honey Doug Krueger after 'cutting in' with his dance partner. Accompanied by their children Brett, Kipp, Kelly, and Doug's daughter Kate, they were married October 3, 1987, at Unity Church. In 1990 Portage Public Schools selected Jan to be in Michigan's first training class at W.M.U. with Dr. Burns for Reading Recovery which was one-to-one strategic instruction to first graders. Jan's students were highly successful, usually twelve students discontinued per year. Whether her own children, or others, Jan took great delight in teaching. She was an advocate for at-risk learners, and taught with joy and enthusiasm, always looking for each child's strengths, encouraging their successes with praise, and using her famous "super shooting stars". Jan's 2004 Retirement quote "Teaching-like life-isn't how you live it, but how you LOVE it! I offer the children I've taught, the gift of a grateful and confident heart." Jan had a giving, generous spirit. Her life was enriched by her beloved husband Doug, children, grands, family, and treasured friendships that lasted a lifetime - Carole, Sandy, Joanne, Corlinda, Laura and so many more. Jan's closest friend was her daughter Kelly.

Jan enjoyed decorating their home for various holidays/celebrations and giving dinner parties/cooking with Doug. Jan loved God, trips and trails with Doug, Kelly and grands, dancing, riding her horses, hugs, holding hands, planting/harvesting from her organic garden-sharing its bounty, children, animals, teaching, books, storytelling, singing, rocking grand babies, Valentines, handwritten notes, cards, more books, happy endings, home cooking, smells of baking bread, French chocolate, the Star-Spangled Banner, her dog Sadie Mae, adventures to European countries, and coming HOME. God! Love! Family! What a Wonderful, Dance of Life!

She was preceded in death by her husband Doug, July 7, 2018. Survivors include daughter Kelly (Todd) Cheladyn with grandchildren, Kierstyn, Brian and Brennan, son Brett (Amy) Rustenholtz with grandchildren, Becca, Erick, son Kipp Rustenholtz, daughter Kate (Giovanni) Torres with grandchild Rowan, sister Anne Fruin Kloack with Jon (Michelle and Emily) Kloack, Andy and Karen Kloack, as well as extended family.

A memorial service to celebrate Jan's life will be held at Kempf Family Funeral Home in Marshall, Michigan on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 12:00 pm. Family and friends will gather one hour prior to the service for visitation. Jan will be laid to rest at Oakridge Cemetery in Marshall, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Make-A-Wish, Team BStrong, in her memory. This cause became especially meaningful to the family when her grandson, a childhood cancer survivor, received his wish in 2022. Your donation will help bring hope, strength and joy to children facing critical illnesses. (https://wish.org/give-hope-granting-life-changing-wishes). Kempf Family Funeral Home is honored to care for the family in their time of need.