Myrna R. Schalekamp ’60 Kreykes

Myrna R. Kreykes was born to Bill and Grace (Reinders) Schalekamp on April 10, 1938, in Orange City. She graduated from Orange City High School in 1956 and went on to get her undergraduate degree in English education from Hope College in 1960.

Myrna married Gary Kreykes on July 1, 1960. She spent several years teaching high school English in Jefferson, S.D., Little Rock, Iowa, and Boyden/Hull. Her next several years were spent at home raising their two daughters. Gary’s various coaching jobs then took her to Richland Center, Wisc., Bozeman, Mont., and Muscatine.

While living in Muscatine, she went back to school at the University of Iowa and completed her master’s degree in library sciences. She worked in libraries in Muscatine, Terrill, (while living in Estherville), and Westmar College in LeMars. She ended her career as the LeMars Community Junior High School librarian, where she was awarded “Teacher of the Year” before retiring in 2001.

Her love of books and reading was evident throughout her life. She loved to be a part of book clubs, and also served on the board of the LeMars Public Library. In her retirement, she volunteered to translate books into braille for the Iowa Department for the Blind. She also volunteered at several church youth programs in LeMars, Spirit Lake and Ames, as well as assisting with the English as a second language program at her church in LeMars.

Myrna and Gary retired to Okoboji in 2001, were they enjoyed many years of fun times with family and friends, and eventually settled in Ames in 2008. Her greatest joys were spending time with loved ones and discussing books and politics.

Myrna is survived by her two daughters, Jennifer (Julius) Weyman, of Chatsworth, Ga., and Audra (Brian) Duster, of Ames; her grandchildren, Dirk and Rebekah Weyman, of Chatsworth, and Ben, Emily, Yetta and Charles Duster, of Ames; along with many other extended family members who were also always very near to her heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant son, Dirk Jay Kreykes; her husband, Gary Kreykes; and her sister, Mary VanMarel.

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