Barbara Jeanne Kruschel, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and fierce friend, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, February 23, 2026.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 2, from 12 pm to 2 pm at the Cambridge Library in the Great Northern Room.
Barbara was born to Frederick (Fritz) Kruschel and Donna (Petersen) Kruschel in St. Paul, Minnesota in June of 1951. She graduated from North St. Paul High school in 1969, and graduated college in 1973 with a degree in special education.
She moved to Cambridge, Minnesota, in 1981 to work for the Cambridge State Hospital. During that time, she met, fell in love with, and married Harold Lindsay in January of 1995.
She was very excited to be able to retire with the Rule of Ninety in 2011, and she spent the next 14 years of her life volunteering for the DFL, Pathways Food Shelf, Isanti County Library, the Shalom Shop, Meals on Wheels, The Friendship Cafe, and many other organizations. She gave completely and selflessly of herself whenever she could.
She is survived by her loving husband Harold Lindsay, her daughter Mary Bulfer, her grandson Gabriel Bulfer (Ava Imholte), her parents Fritz and Donna Kruschel, her siblings Cindy Carlson (Doug) and Franz Kruschel, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and so many friends.
In remembrance of her, we ask that you do an act of kindness for your neighbor, family, or friend in her honor.
Barb you were the best. You took care of my brother, Harold, for which I am so grateful. And, you came with the most adorable little curly red head, Mary, when you married Harold and I gained another niece. Mary keeps surprising me with her many talents in the art of crocheting and now knitting. Mary kept him young and running to and fro. I am devastated that you left me and all your wonderful Democratic friends. What are we going to do without your leadership. Besides working tirelessly with the DFL, you spent all your retirement days volunteering for so many organizations, keep the county commissioners on their toes, brought lunches from the Senior Center along with Betty to residents, helped Betty deliver papers, worked at the Food Shelf, and I do not even know of the many other places you volunteered. You and Harold were the proudest grandparents when Gabe was born. I still remember Harold walking down Main Street with Gabe on his shoulders. Your encouragement and support to Mary during the school years of Gabe have been rewarded with a fine young man who now has a welding career. I could go on and on. i miss the mornings we would run into you with Harold at Peoples, the noon lunches at SACS when Sandy and I stopped in for lunch and and you and Betty were there just finishing your lunch run. I will always remember with happiness the trip Harold and you , Sandy and I took to visit Rick, Aunt Diane, Carol and then on to Ferndale to celebrate George’s 80 th birthday with Renee, Michelle and family and Barb. We had to hold our seats and pray alot as Harold did all the driving. The trip we took to visit Aunt Diane’s horse, Sarbon, at Old Friends in Kentucky and Bob met us there was another wonderful time. I know you and Harold took many great trips as well. Barb, thank you for the many wonderful memories. My heart is breaking right now, but I know it is filled with good times shared. Love, Annie
WE did the auctions at the Catholic Parish for years. You did that. We raised money for the DFL by working the Fair Booth too. I always enjoyed seeing you and Harold at People’s for breakfast. Harold and I are friends and I feel so bad for him missing you and your smile. Your dry humor was infectious. I am so sad that will not be with us.
Oh Barb, you were the best. The best example of what it means to help each other, to help our community, to do our best to make this world what it should be. I am so glad you were part of my life. Although we no longer have you with us, you will always be in my heart. My love and sympathy goes to Mary, Harold, and all your family.
Barb was such a good friend, and an inspiration to all of us. I enjoyed volunteering with her for the DFL, and delivering meals with her to shutins for the Friendship Cafe. She was a huge help to me delivering newspapers. I loved her bubbly personality. My love goes out to Mary and Harold and her whole family.
Oh Barb I miss you already. I am heartbroken. RIP.
I sure do miss you Lady ❤️ You are one of the kindest, giving, loving, woman… a firecracker 🧨 in all that you were part of, I’m going to miss going camping at that state park in that small cabin with 2 sets of bunk beds and coffee ☕ in the morning with my hot pot. I enjoyed doing things with Betty and Kriste and you Barb. I’m going to miss our adventures together ❣️ Lunches at Friendship Cafe, or Holidays dinners at Kriste’s when we all brought something to share, or when we went places to hear music 🎵 🎶 at the brewery or at the church your enthusiasm and adventure, and one more thing coming to the hospital 🏥 to visit me a number of times, YOU will be Missed , Love you my friend and peace for your family and friends and all the people that you touched you’re A very special soul 🙏 love, Kathy Price ❤️