Teresa “Tere” Marie Kranz passed away peacefully at home on the morning of June 23, 2024.
Tere was born in St. Peter, Minnesota on May 22, 1945 to Audrey and August “Pinky” Kubiak. Tere lived in both St. Peter and Grand Rapids, Minnesota before moving to Hastings. She attended Guardian Angels School and graduated from Hastings High School in 1963. She was voted homecoming queen of her class. Tere married her high school sweetheart, Paul Shelly Kranz, remaining inseparable for nearly 60 years.
After starting a family, Tere went on to college and received her teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She later went on to receive her Masters in Education from the same university. Mrs. Kranz, as her students knew her, taught elementary school in the Hastings School District for 29 years. She was passionate about multi-age and whole language learning, and believed teaching was an art, at which she excelled. Tere traveled to New Zealand and Denmark to deepen her expertise of teaching literacy.
Tere was friendly, outgoing, and always up for an adventure. One of her greatest achievements was trekking down the Grand Canyon, and back up, with her traveling companion Jackie. Growing up, her father ran the Riviera Theater, where she worked and developed her love of movies. She loved summers spent up north at the Kubiak cabin. Tere enjoyed traveling, her favorite places being Italy, Ireland and Cozumel. She loved swimming, reading, biking, cross-country skiing and socializing with friends. Tere was creative and a lover of the arts. Paul and Tere wintered in Carefree, Arizona, enjoying the warm weather, hiking, live music, and watching rodeos. Tere lived and loved life to the fullest.
Tere is survived by her husband, Paul; sister, Denise (Webb) Severson; three children, Heidi (Carl) Dabruzzi, Paul Mitchell Kranz (Robin Moy), and Patrick Kelly Kranz; six grandchildren, AJ Dabruzzi (Bobbi Jones), Elisa Dabruzzi (Paul Swanson), Gina Dabruzzi, Samantha Dabruzzi, Isabella Kranz, Charlotte Kranz; two great grandchildren, Leo and Greta Swanson; brother-in-law, Raymond Fair; and special cousin, Kathy Gilson. She is preceded in death by her parents, Audrey and Pinky; and most recently, her sister, Andrea Fair.
A Memorial Service will be held at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel, 3075 Vermillion Street, Hastings on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service, and a luncheon following. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery.
For guestbook and further information, please visit www.hastingsmnfuneral.com.
Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.
