Cindy Schroder Kruer reluctantly departed this life on September 6, 2026. As was her nature, she fought the good fight until the end.

Cindy was an unforgettable person who shared her opinions freely, and virtually anything she had. She often performed extraordinary acts of kindness for not just those she loved, but acquaintances and strangers as well.

Cindy’s life was comprised of many chapters and she navigated each one with hard work and an honest approach. At various points in her life she was a teenage mother, a beauty queen, an adoptive mother, a valued employee/manager at Flanagan’s Garden Center, a licensed barber, a green thumb extraordinaire, a prolific crafter, a grandmother and restaurant manager of the Star of Louisville.

Perhaps the most meaningful chapter of her life was the last. ALS is one of the cruelest diseases a person can be diagnosed with. Once Cindy was diagnosed in February 2025, she worked hard to keep and exert her independence. Despite losing the ability to speak (and eventually to eat), she continued to work, craft and generally do the things that made her life whole until 3 weeks before her passing. Her courage and strength during the past 17 months defined her life, not ALS.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Marion “Joe” Kruer; her children, George Budd (Sara), Max Nauman and Halle Nauman; her step children, Adam Kruer (Kelsie) and Michael Kruer (Hannah); her grandchildren, Tristan, Sophia, Vivienne, Coen, Meadow, Claire and Caleb; siblings, Richard “Ricky” Schroder and Laura Beyerle (William); and countless friends she made over the years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Evelyn Schroder.

Visitation will be at Garr Funeral Home on Sunday, September 13th, from 1:00-8:00pm. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, September 14th at St Joe Hill Catholic Church at 11:00am. Cindy’s final resting place will be on St Joe Hill Cemetery, near her parents.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Live Like Lou, an organization dedicated to ALS research and supporting families affected by ALS.