Merle Catherine Krenzke

LEWISTONMerle Catherine Krenzke, 93 of Rochester and formerly from Lewiston/Preston, died Friday, February 27, 2015 at her home in Rochester with family at her side.Merle was born July 30, 1921, on the family farm in Canton to Clair and Ellen (Gossman) Snyder. She was raised in Preston with five sisters and two brothers. After high school, Merle worked as a nurse's aide at St. Mary's hospital in Rochester, Austin's Ice Cream Shop and the White Gate Restaurant in Preston, where she met Oscar Krenzke, her future husband. They were married August 6, 1951, in Spring Valley and moved to Lewiston, where they lived from 1951 until 1993. Merle also worked in the cafeteria at the schools in Lewiston. In her earlier years, Merle loved her family, fishing, dancing, golf, playing cards, quilting, and crocheting. She also enjoyed cooking and baking, with chocolate chip cookies and cream puffs being everyone's favorites. Merle is survived by her four sons, Duane (Inez) Snyder of Rochester, Richard (Lynn) Snyder of Huntington Beach, CA, Scott (Peggy) Krenzke of Festus, MO, and Kevin Krenzke of Rochester; 5 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Howard (Jenine) Snyder of Owatonna and formerly Preston. Merle was preceded in death by her parents; husband Oscar, in 2004; 5 sisters; and 1 brother.Visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at Hoff Funeral and Cremation Service in Lewiston. A prayer service, led by Father Glenn Frerichs of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, will begin at 3 p.m. A private graveside service will be held this spring in Lewiston Public Cemetery.Please share a memory of Merle with her family and view her video tribute at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/574175