Coral (Mrs. Don) Hesse, 87, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed away Tuesday evening, October 6, 2020, at Wheatland manor surrounded by loved ones.

Coral Ardis Krukow was born February 7, 1933, in DeWitt to the late Ewalt Emil “Abe” and Leone (Hoffman) Krukow. She was preceded in death by her brother, Merlyn Krukow. She lived her entire life in DeWitt, whose places and traditions meant much to her. Following graduation from DeWitt High School, Coral attended Iowa State Teachers College.  She taught elementary school in Calamus in the early 1950’s.  On September 14, 1955, Coral married Donald Glenn Hesse, in Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt. They recently celebrated their 65th anniversary.  Together, they enjoyed picnics, afternoon car trips, and visits with family, growing inseparable as they grew older, caring for each other in turn. They were active together in the Clinton County Historical Society and kept a trim Victorian house on Sixth Avenue, DeWitt.  Coral began working at the DeWitt Public Library in the 1970’s. Books, especially intelligent mysteries, were a lifelong passion. In rare quiet times, she would slip to another room to read a few pages, often sitting on the floor near a register.  Coral would gather her kids in one bedroom every night to read a chapter from The Happy Hollisters or similar series.

She was baptized, confirmed, and married in Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt, where she was active in Ladies Aid and in women’s circles.  Her Bible was well-worn and thick with notes, favorite verses, and clippings, including a long list of hymns she wanted sung at her funeral--too many, she knew.  “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” was one of them, and that consolation guided her life.  Most important in her life were her faith and family.  She never missed a child’s activity, whether a concert or play, a church or sports event, a holiday, or any other occasion. Quoting her father, she’d remark, “If one of my kids is turning pages at a recital, I’ll be there to watch.” Her grandchildren experienced the same love and support often in the form of a card, inevitably with a single stick of Juicy Fruit or Doublemint gum slipped in with a note.  Coral was content often to let the spotlight shine on others, offering support by being there, working hard and doing what needed to be done. A cheerleader for others, it would be surprising then to learn that she was a city champion bowler and a state-level cornet player. She was happy to be a wife, a mother, a grandparent, a sister, a friend, holding each role with dignity.

In addition to Don and her sisters, Joyce Fletcher and Diane Christensen, Coral is survived by six children, Doug (Becky) of Denver, Colorado, Joellyn (John) McDonnell and Susan Hesse of DeWitt, Kathleen (Rick) Miller, of Leander, Texas, Barbara (Doug) Range of Lilburn, Georgia, and John of Cumming, Georgia. She is further survived by 17 grandchildren, Monica (Rob Cox) Hesse, Andrew (Molly) Hesse, Paige (fiancé, Armand Emamdjomeh) Osburn, Shannon (Phil) Schroetter, Josh (Nicole) McDonnell, Jason (Sarah) McDonnell, Adam (Jill) McDonnell, Sean Hunter, Katie (Ryan) Rebers, Austin (Jessica Miller), Courtney (Dusty) Lozano, Nathan Hesse, Jade (James) Helm, Jacob Range, Jenna Range, Jared Hesse and Justin Hesse and 13 great-grandchildren. They were her everything; they are her legacy.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Grace Lutheran Church, DeWitt from 12:30 until 1:45 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2020.  A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in the church with the Rev. Anthony Dodgers officiating.  The service will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/schultzfuneralhomes/live.  Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt.  In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials are suggested to Camp Courageous or Parkinson's Foundation.

Pallbearers will be grandchildren.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com.

The family would like to extend their most sincere thank you to Wheatland Manor and Hospice Compassus for the wonderful care provided to Coral and her family. 

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt.