Michelle Ann Kruse

Nov 22, 1954 -

Jan 2, 2023

Michelle Ann Kruse passed away at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, on Jan. 2, 2023, with her husband and sons at her bedside.

Born in the Panama Canal Zone to Willis and Laura "Jerry" Renner on Nov. 22, 1954, Michelle grew up in Maryland, Virginia, and Spraggs, Pa. Michelle lived her adult life in Eagle River, Alaska, with her husband.

She earned a special education degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1977.

Following college, she relocated to Kongiganak in southwest Alaska, were she taught for the Alaska Native community. In 1980, Michelle drove from Pennsylvania to Kenai via the Alaska Highway with her father in a Ford Bronco, where she taught at Kenai Elementary.

Shortly after arriving in Kenai, Michelle met her husband Steven, on a blind date over 42 years ago. They married on June 27, 1981, and moved to Eagle River, were they raised their two sons Michael and Mark.

Michelle taught special education at Kongiganak, Romig Junior High and Ptarmigan Elementary.

Michelle loved to camp in the three different RVs she bought. She was affectionately known as "Winnebago Babe."

She developed a passion for birds. She enjoyed birding at the Homer Shorebird Festival, and in the lakes, mountains and streams all over Alaska. Michelle was a self-taught photographer who took thousands of quality photos.

The sense of adventure that brought her to Alaska also led her to travel the world with her family. She traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Islands, China, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Costa Rica, Europe and all over North America.

Michelle was a talented writer and published the "The Girl Who Swam With The Fish" in 1995. She also published several short stories and articles for magazines, including a story about hiking the Resurrection Trail with Steve and Michael when Michael was still a baby.

Michelle was a passionate cook. She loved to experiment with new recipes and test them on her family. She later became a world class baker, and especially enjoyed holiday baking.

Michelle was full of joy and kindness. She was a volunteer in numerous organizations. She volunteered for 10 years as the director of Joy Child Development Center. She also transcribed college lectures for hearing impaired students at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

She was thrilled to have four grandchildren and loved spending time with them, and spoiling them with gifts and sweets. You could see the joy in her heart whenever she was with them.

She developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2019, and was flown on an emergency life flight to Seattle for treatment. We are forever grateful to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/Fred Hutch for extending her life nearly four years with a bone marrow transplant. She relapsed March 2022 and fought complications since.

Michelle was the anchor of her family, strong through any crisis. She helped her husband and sons navigate the trials and tribulations of life, and was there for them always when they needed her calm guidance.

Her family cherished her and could not imagine a better life partner, mother, doting grandmother, daughter and sister.

She is survived by her husband of over 41 years, Steve; son, Mike and daughter-in-law Kendal; son, Mark; grandchildren, Renner, Steele, Ezekiel and Roman; mother, Laura Renner; sister, Sheree Smith; brother, Dewey Renner and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Willis.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle River at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org.