Esther Elnora (Mai) Krug, 100, died at The Pines of Hiawatha in Hiawatha, KS on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Esther was born on November 2, 1925 in Trego County, KS to John Henry Mai and Magdalena (Knaus) Mai. Both of her parents were first generation German Americans migrating from Russia. She grew up on a farm in Trego County and in 1945 moved with the family to Garden City, KS.
She married Charles Otto Krug on April 6, 1946 in Iola, KS. They made their first home in Fort Scott, KS while Charles was attending college at Pittsburg, KS. They later moved to Garden City where they raised their two sons, Kenneth C. Krug and Steven D. Krug. Charles and Esther were married 53 years before he passed away in 1999.
Esther retired from USD 457 in 1990 after 24 years of service in the Garden City High School cafeteria ending her career as the High School cafeteria manager. She enjoyed planning and preparing the meals and became lifelong friends with some of her co-workers. The ladies continued to meet together monthly for coffee long after their retirements.
She was known for her beautiful yard, flowers and garden. She always had a backyard blooming and, in the spring, it was full of peonies and all colors of irises. She also was a wonderful baker and cook with some of the family's favorites being her bierocks, cinnamon rolls, pies and peanut brittle. There was always plenty of her homemade chocolates and homemade candies at Christmas time.
Esther was a lifelong Lutheran and member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Garden City, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles; her brother, Emil Mai; three sisters, Lydia Schweer, Ruth Burdick and Freda McMillan; and grandson, Charles Krug.
Survivors include her sons, Kenneth C. Krug and wife, Janis, Horton, KS and Steven D. Krug and wife, Celia, Spearman, TX; two grandchildren, Kelly K. Chanay (Jeff), Holton, KS and Kristopher C. Krug (Ashley), Kansas City, MO; three great-grandchildren, Mason Chanay (Paige), Gwendolyn Krug and Charles Krug.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City followed by burial at Valley View Cemetery.
Visitation at the funeral home will be from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Friday May 8, 2026 with the family present from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Trinity Lutheran Church or to "School Nutrition Association of Kansas" for the Esther Krug Scholarship both in care of Garnand Funeral Home.
