Marilyn Kruger
Marilyn E. Brissett Kruger, 84, died Saturday, September 18, 2021 at her home in Oak Park Heights, MN surrounded by her family. Cause of death was complications from a stroke.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, September 22 at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake, WI with Fr. Gene Murphy officiating. Interment followed the service at St. Croix Falls Cemetery in St. Croix Falls, WI.
She was born June 22, 1937 in Waukon to Leslie and Bernice (Ryan) McCormick. She graduated from St. Patrick’s School in Waukon and in 1955 entered the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dubuque. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Clarke College, Dubuque, she went on to receive a master’s degree in counseling from Loras College, also in Dubuque.
She left the religious community in 1971 and was working as a counselor at Hazelden (now Hazelden Betty Ford) Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation in Center City, MN when she met Bob Brissett, another counselor, whom she married in 1972.
In 1983, Marilyn and Bob accepted an offer to work on the development of the first chemical dependency treatment center in Ireland modeled on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program that was the foundation of Hazelden. With Sr. Eileen Fahey, RSM, they established Aisérí in Cahir, County Tipperary.
Their work is richly detailed in Fahey’s memoir, “Aisérí, Treating Addiction, Responding Anew in Hope.”
After they returned to their home in St. Croix Falls, WI, they would periodically return to Aisérí to support its expansion to other parts of Ireland until Bob’s death in 1996. Afterwards, Marilyn would travel there twice yearly to continue her work as director of Hazelden’s European counselor training program.
In July 2005, Marilyn married Al Kruger, a retired marketing consultant for a German textile firm, an independent consultant and a philanthropist. With Al, she started “Reading Friends for Little Saints,” a literacy intervention for St. Croix Falls elementary students. They were active in the National Scenic River program as it related to the upper St. Croix River.
Enthusiastic travelers, they visited New Zealand, Brazil, the Cayman Islands, Cuba and Italy among other places. In their 70s, they purchased a large recreational vehicle in which they traversed the United States, making two extended stops in New Orleans, where Al worked with Habitat for Humanity while Marilyn did other volunteer work in the homeless community.
She is survived by her husband, Al Kruger; her son, Cormac Brissett; six stepchildren by Bob Brissett: Paul (Jane) Brissett, Bridget (Bruce) Munson, Erin (Dan) Erkkila, Cassandra Brissett, Magloire Sharstrom and Mary Brissett; three stepchildren by Al Kruger: Eric (Amy) Kruger, Clayton (Erin) Kruger and Christine (Tim) Weiss; her brother, Jack McCormick; and her sister, Sr. Anne McCormick, PBVM. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob Brissett; her stepson, André (Mary Jo Koszarek) Brissett; her parents; her brothers, Bill and Jim McCormick; and her sisters, Peggy Dempsey and Marita Howes.
Arrangements were by Grandstrand Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Osceola, WI, www.grandstrandfh.com.
