Curtiss and Marlene Krantz

Curtiss (Curt) Krantz, age 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior and best friend, Jesus Christ, on July 1, 2018, at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. His loving wife, Marlene Krantz, (Olk), age 85, passed two days later, July 3, 2018, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, joining him and their Savior for eternity.

Curt was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Florence Krantz, and brother, Joris Krantz. He is survived by his sister, Helen Cullen. Marlene was preceded in death by her father, Nicholas Olk, mother, Hazel (Brown) Kelly and Harold Kelly, brother, Allan, infant sister, June, and nephew, Michael. Together, they lost their precious grandchildren, Calvin Krantz 1992 and Andrew Kaselemis 2018. They are both survived by their 5 children, Jill (Gary) Duran, Kristine (Keith “Arnie”) Johnson, Heidi (Chris) Kaselemis, Eric and Karl (Bridget), their foreign-exchange daughter, Jenny Renjel (Aldo) Pellegrini, 22 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Curt was born on April 19, 1932, in Minneapolis, MN. Marlene was born on December 31. 1932, in Paynesville, MN. They met in fourth grade at Burwell School, Minnetonka Mills, MN. They were high school sweethearts and they were married on June 19, 1954, at Mizpah Congregational Church, Hopkins, MN.

Curt served in the Army at Fort Bragg in the 82nd Airborne division and was proud to be a paratrooper. “Airborne All the Way”! He went on to join the family carpet business, Krantz Bros. Rug and Carpet Shop on Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis and later moved the business to Wayzata, MN, where he added The Feed Store in the warehouse behind the shop. As the carpet industry evolved away from small specialty shops, Curt moved his focus to The Feed Store and the fast-growing hobby of feeding birds, discovering the age-old, Scandinavian tradition feeding wheat sheaves to the birds, which launched his brainchild, The ABTA Co. (A Benefit to All). He was active in the Wayzata Chamber of Commerce and The Rotary Club. He loved airplanes and he loved to fly them. He was an excellent trap shooter and hunter and he loved to fly-fish – every stream he saw, called to him to cast a line. A cowboy at heart, he loved the West and loved the mountains. His kind, considerate, and gentle spirit and positive-thinking attitude and his “I can do it!” and “Make it happen!” attitude, coupled with extra-ordinary determination, influenced all those around him. He was an excellent salesman and entrepreneur. He was an amazing father, teaching his children life-lessons at every opportunity and gave endlessly of his time to each of them, as their needs arose. He was a devoted husband who loved and cherished his wife and honored her greatly. He always reminded his children that he was in love with their mother. He loved people, he loved life and he loved God.

Marlene, always by his side, helped fully in the family businesses, as well as worked at Panache, (Ridgedale), where she worked in management selling women’s coats, all while she was an amazing home-maker and loving, attentive, fun-loving mother and hobby-farm wife. She was an excellent seamstress, knitter, and quilter. Everyone, including her children, would agree that she was especially talented in making pies – they were spectacularly delicious, and every crust was perfect! She embraced an amazing patient and calm and loving spirit, coupled with a wonderful, wry sense of humor and found delight and humor in most everything. She was a dedicated and loving wife who fully supported her husband in all he did. Whether she was hunting, skiing, chasing their loose horses, or helping with harvest, she was by Curt’s side! Both Curt and she loved music and loved to dance, but Marlene was always the one to “bust a move” when the music came on! Later, when they moved to Pine River, she worked part-time at Pfeiffer Drug in both Pine River and Pequot Lakes where she tended the soda fountain and delighted in making fabulous malts and visiting with her customers, as well as serving her very proud grown children and grandchildren!

They lived in Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Long Lake (34 years) and, never wanting to be far from nature, “retired” and spent their last 18 years together on a beautiful site overlooking a bend in the Pine River, where they enjoyed many visits from all their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

They loved feeding the birds, and, unwittingly, the bears. Curt also hunted deer and grouse and fished and tended the woods and property. They watched the eagles, swans, otters, and beavers play in the river. Their bird books and binoculars were always close at hand and grabbed quickly when another of God’s creatures showed up to entertain them. They were always busy with church and community groups and their many activities, which included saving and restoring the depot, being in the Pine River Parade, helping at the county fair, supporting and walking the cancer walk, visiting the coffee shops and enjoying their favorite activities of Pie on the Porch and the Pine River Duck Races.

Always busy working, volunteering, serving, and having lots of fun, Curt and Marlene and their family of five children made a lifetime of memories together working, selling popcorn from their old-fashioned popcorn machine, skiing, horse-back riding, harvesting hay and wheat, making Jule Negs (sheaves of wheat), camping, fishing, hunting, vacationing in the mountains, canoeing on the river, and witnessing to others about the love of Christ through their love for others.

They lived a life together filled with adventure, love, laughter, challenges, and sorrow. Through it all, they had each other and relied on their faith in their personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They often shared their faith and wanted all to know about salvation through Jesus Christ. John 3:3 and John 3:16. They want to see you in heaven!

In lieu of flowers, please help the Riverview Church financially with their numerous outreach ministries to the community of Pine River by sending your memorials to Riverview Church 310 Norway Ave. / PO Box 195 Pine River, MN 56474 218-587-2021.