Hermina "Hetty" A.C. (Konemann) Krucke

Hetty Krucke died on December 6, 2023, after a protracted chronic illness.  She was able to enjoy her 84th birthday earlier this year. Hetty was a resident of Lanier Village Estates in Gainesville for the past 3 years along with her husband, Hans as well as a member of Gainesville First United Methodist Church.

Hetty was born on March 24, 1939, in the country of Indonesia to her Christian missionary parents Rev. Willem Konemann and Hermina Knecht Konemann. She was the youngest of three children. She is survived by her husband, Hans Hermann Krucke, her sons, Dr. Gus William Krucke of Gainesville (recently moving from Houston) and Eric John Krucke (wife Stacy Bennett Krucke) of Suwanee;  her sister, Metty van den Hooff-Konemann (Netherlands); her granddaughter, Kristen Hermina McConkey (Marion, Illinois); and five grandsons – Stephen Dale McConkey (New York City), Austin William Krucke (wife Gracie Blount Krucke), Cole Peyton Krucke, Logan Bennett Krucke. Hetty was predeceased by her daughter, Ingrid Hermina McConkey (husband Rev. Dale McConkey), parents and her brother, Bill Konemann. p

Hetty was born in Indonesia while her Dutch parents were serving as missionaries for the Christian Missionary Alliance.  Early in her life (ages 2-6) during World War II, she and her whole family were held in captivity in concentration camps (originally by the Japanese and then by the Indonesians).   After an allied forces assisted release, they travaled to Nyack, NY for healing & rehabilitation from the years of significant malnutrition and hardship.  Once strong enough, they returned to their home in The Netherlands which would be Hetty’s first experience within Holland. Subsequently, her father then brought the entire family back to the mission field in Indonesia, but it was short-lived due to her mother’s physical weakness.  Hetty then grew up in The Netherlands and enjoyed many things offered by her newly experienced freedoms, including the opportunity to participatie in a professional traveling choir and complete her high school education.

Hetty then chose to travel to the USA (by ship) to attend college at Nyack Missionary College (Nyack, New York) for religion and cultural anthropology studies. During her time in Nyack, she met her future husband, Hans.  He helped her solve concerns regarding her the expiring student visa….  His famous gesture of love “We can fix that.” She curiously asked for clarity.  He said “Let’s get married.”.  She quickly accepted the proposal & so their journey for 62 years began in June 1961.   In the same month, her husband Hans was commissioned as a Naval officer and reported to a ship for service. 

Their life together has shared many residences as Hans’ Naval and civil service career unfolded: Key West, Florida; Virginia Beach, VA; Metuchen, New Jersey; Lakewood, New Jersey; Sterling, VA; and Pensacola, FL.

Several years after his retirement, they decided to move to a retirement community, Azalea Trace, in Pensacola, FL.  Three years ago, they decided to be closer to family moving to Lanier Village Estates (Gainesville, GA).

Hetty invested most of her high-functioning life as a wife, mother, educator, homemaker, sales leader (Tupperware) and church/community leader (United Methodist Women - Regional President).  When her health permitted, she dedicated her time to helping others (refugees, exchange students, women of 3rd world countries and under-served or troubled students) that otherwise may not have opportunities.  She travelled to speak about the stories of the concentration camps, emphasizing the grace and mercy of God that both carried her through the injustice, but also enabled her to completely forgive her captures.  Only by the hand of God. 

Hetty lived each day full of gratefulness.  She knew & lived with certainty that “every day is a gift” from God.  Her heart’s cry was to share the truth of His love with others. All glory and honor to God. 

We wish to thank all at Lanier Village Estates especially those in Willowbrooke and Pruitt Hospice who helped care for her in these last days. 

For those interested, we ask that donations be made to the Gainesville First United Methodist Church www.gfumc.com/, earmarked for the Samaritan Fund (serving the local community as basic needs arise).

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, December 9, 2023 at Lanier Village Estates. Please join the family in the Auditorium after the service for refreshments and time together. Interment will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, December 15, 2023 at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com