Constance Krieger

Constance (Connie) Puetz Krieger

Connie was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and, after a long struggle, made her transition on August 8, 2018 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Connie was born on May 9, 1957, in LeMars, Iowa, to Eugene and Margaret (Nemmers) Puetz. She was the youngest of six children and was raised on a farm until she was ten. The family moved to Ohio and then Spencer, Iowa, where she graduated from Spencer High School in 1975. Connie graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College and had a varied career working with insurance agencies in Des Moines, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

She met her husband, Perry Krieger, in high school and they married on August 16, 1980. After the wedding they drove cross-country to Oregon for Perry to attend optometry school. Along the way they spent their honeymoon in the Black Hills and saw the devastation after the explosion of Mount St. Helens. They lived in Forest Grove, Oregon, for five years while Perry worked on his Doctor of Optometry degree, and Connie once again worked for a local insurance agency.

In 1990 Perry accepted a position as an independent doctor with Lens-Crafters in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the two of them worked as a team for 28 years. Their son, Justin, was born in 1992 and graduated from Iowa State University in 2016 with a degree in Liberal Arts, majoring in Mathematics.

Connie will be remembered for her grace, positive attitude, courage and strength. Her gentle spirit, caring ways and laughter have touched many throughout her life.

Connie is survived by her husband of 37 years, Dr. Perry Krieger; her son, Justin, of Norwalk, Iowa; her father, Gene Puetz, of Cedar Falls; her mother-in-law, Carrie Krieger, of Spencer; sister, Nancy (Galen) Marsh, of Livermore, Calif.; brother, Daniel Puetz and wife Gerrie Hartman, of Palatine, Ill.; brother, Fred (Rose) Puetz of Omaha, Neb.; sister, Barbara Goergen and husband Tom Flagg, of Waynesville, N.C.; brother, John (Melissa) Puetz, of Fallbrook, Calif.; sister-in-law, Lisa Walker, of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and special high school friends (M7s): Cheryl (Moss) Hood, Lynn (Sullivan) Gannon, Laurie (Hinton) Gabhart, Karrie (Lathrop) Mullenberg, Karen (Milton) Dunlap, and Ann (Barnes) Johannsen.

A celebration of Connie's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, 1825 W. 12th St., Cedar Falls.

Connie would prefer that no black be worn nor suits and ties, but rather vibrant colors and casual clothes. At Connie's request, monetary donations may be given online to Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo at www.cvhospice.org. Gifts cards for Hy-Vee, Fareway, Target, Walmart or any local business may also be donated and left with the family.

Another way to honor Connie is to donate to Retrieving Freedom in Waverly, Iowa, at https://www.retrievingfreedom.org.  This organization trains service dogs for disabled veterans and autistic children.