Carole Anne Kruger

December 12, 1939 - August 10, 2026

The family of Carole Anne Kruger, nee Gallon, is saddened to announce her passing on August 10, 2026, at The Hamlets in Vernon, B.C. She will be missed by Edmund, her husband of 65 years, and her children: Joy Kruger of Vernon; Terry (Debra) Kruger of Calgary; and Travis (Barb) Kruger, of Calgary. She is also in the hearts of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Stephen, his wife Norah, and their daughters Layla and Lucy Kruger of Yellowknife; Emily and Tyler Shulko of Yellowknife, Jessica Kruger of Vernon; and Lauren Kruger, of Calgary.

Carole was the youngest daughter of Lumby pioneers John and Rhea Gallon. She was born in Vernon and lived most of her life in Lumby, until she and Ed had a later in life adventure with a move to Grande Cache, Alberta followed by retirement to Courtenay on Vancouver Island and a final move “home” to Vernon in 2005. They enjoyed summer camping road trips and vacations throughout B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, into the Yukon, Alaska and the Northwest Territories and trips to the Maritimes and Mexico with family and six memorable trips throughout Europe.

She so enjoyed hosting family and friends at countless Christmas and Boxing Day dinners, July 1 barbecues, and happy hours with neighbours at their homes in Courtenay and Vernon. In Lumby Carole belonged to the Lend A Hand organization and was active in the Lumby Curling Club for many years.

In 2011, Carole experienced a stroke that may have taken her voice and limited her mobility but did little to dampen her joy of being with family and her mischievous spirit. Their shared love was never more evident than when Ed became more than her husband and partner and took on the roles of caregiver, physical therapist and translator. It broke everyone’s hearts when we came to understand that she could no longer be cared for at home.

She was predeceased by her parents, and siblings Bert Gallon, Les Gallon, Noella Dodge and Glen Gallon. She will also be lovingly remembered by her sister Rhea Husdup of Vernon and brother Henry of Kamloops and their families. The many comments from Carole’s nieces and nephews from across Canada, the U.S. and Germany and Ed’s surviving brothers Helmut and Alfred have been an enormous comfort to the family as we know she has a special place in everyone’s memories.

We want to thank the staff at The Hamlets for their care for our wife and mother over the past two years and to the staff at the Pleasant Valley Funeral Home in Vernon for their care and comfort during a very difficult time.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later time.