Constance A. Kruger, an exceptional woman of many talents, passed away August 18, 2020. She was born September 11, 1926, to Morris Ackman and Sadie Pemstein Ackman in Worcester, Mass. She was the widow of Reuben Kruger, who died in 2011.
After marrying Reuben in 1946, Connie lived in Fitzgerald, GA, for over 60 years, working with him in their shoe store while holding leadership positions in many local organizations. She served on the boards of The Fitzgerald Library and Fitzgerald Humane Society. (Her love of dogs, especially rescues, was legendary.) She was an expert bridge player, classical music lover, seamstress, knitter, counted cross-stitcher and cook. She had vast knowledge on many subjects and never missed Jeopardy!
Of all her interests, she was most passionate about her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Adam Beckman said his Grandma Connie “embodied the eloquence of Massachusetts blended with the Southern charm of Fitzgerald, GA. She was brilliant, dignified, loving, witty, and opinionated.” Grandson David remembers Connie greeting him on his visits to Fitzgerald with warm cookies. He said she was someone who used “grammar learned in Massachusetts, charm learned in the South, and fashion sense learned from shopping sprees with her daughters.”
After Reuben’s death, Connie moved to the Atlanta area to be closer to her family. She quickly became a well-known resident of Brookdale/Chambrell, where she made many new friends and participated in exercise programs, trivia games and bridge. But her favorite activities were outings with family to local restaurants, shops and attractions. She traveled with the family to St. Petersburg and the North Georgia Mountains. She celebrated her 90th birthday at the John C. Campbell Folk School where she demonstrated her talent as a water colorist.
Connie was predeceased by her brother Barry Ackman. She is survived by daughters Barbara Kruger and Anne Beckman, son-in-law Paul Beckman, grandsons Adam Beckman and David Beckman, as well as David’s wife Cameron and their two sons Oliver and Theo.
Burial will be 3 PM, Sunday, August 23, in the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation Cemetery at Evergreen in Fitzgerald, Georgia. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Humane Society, 106 Lions Park Rd, Fitzgerald, GA 31750; or Temple Beth Tikvah, 9955 Coleman Rd, Roswell, GA 30075; or The Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation: The Big Store c/o Phil Perlis, 346 Main St, Tifton, GA 31794.