Moeller Funeral Home 104 Roosevelt Road Valparaiso, IN  46383 (219) 462-0535

Kosanke Funeral Home 105 East Indiana Avenue Kouts, IN  46347 (219) 766-2224

Wanatah Funeral Chapel 309 North Main Street Wanatah, IN  46390 (219) 733-2313

Angelcrest Cemetery Highway 49 and 600 North Valparaiso, IN  46383 (219) 531-8690

Mary Louise (Krueckeberg) Theis, 83 of Kouts, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family on Friday, July 24, 2020. She was born November 28, 1936 in Liberty Center, OH to Harry and Irma (Vollmer) Krueckeberg. Mary graduated in 1954 from Arsenal Technical High School as Co-Captain of the Tech Legion, which was a position of highest honor bestowed to one male and female senior based on scholarship and citizenship. She also graduated from nurses training through Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne in 1957, and later received her Master’s Degree from Valparaiso University. Mary made her career as a Registered Nurse at Porter Memorial Hospital, specializing in treating trauma patients in the Emergency Room and aboard ambulances. She also taught nursing courses for many years at Valparaiso University, and played a key role in starting the VNA in Valparaiso. Mary was a member of Kouts Christian Church, the American Legion Auxiliary Post #301, Porter County RN Club, SAQG and PRQG. She enjoyed quilting and gardening, but above all, she loved being with her family. Her tagline in life would be, “Mary cares for people.” She cared for others as a nurse, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend. Mary will be dearly missed, but the love she showed for others will live on.  On June 28, 1975 in Kouts, she married Kenneth E. Theis, who survives, along with children: Ken Theis of Omaha, NE, Natalie (Matthew) White of Kouts; daughter in law, Jea Theis of Omaha, NE; step-children: Neil Theis of Ontario, CA, Sharon (Eddie) Tucker of St. Joe, MO; grandchildren: Jake and Wes Theis, Sophia and Annelise White, Nick (Charity) Nicholson; several great grandchildren; siblings: Natalie (Chuck) Beyer, and Harry Krueckeberg; special goddaughter, Melinda Williams; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister in law, Sue Krueckeberg.
A private burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery in Kouts. In lieu of flowers and donations, the family asks that you send them a letter with your favorite memory or story of Mary, to be placed in a scrapbook for her grandchildren.