Christine Kranz

Christine Anne “Chris” Kranz, 70, recently of Green Bay, passed away June 28th, 2024 after a short but courageous battle with Brain Cancer. Born on April 28, 1954, she was the daughter of the late James and Ethel Arentsen. Chris grew up in Janesville, WI where she attended Parker High School, graduating with the Class of 1972. She went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she pursued her passion of teaching and met the love of her life, Jeff, whom she wed in 1977. After graduating from UW-Whitewater in 1976 with a degree in Elementary Education, she later obtained her master’s degree from UW-Madison. 

During her 35-year teaching career, Chris touched countless lives during her time with the Edgerton School District. She worked at both Edgerton Community Elementary School and Yahara Valley Elementary. Her students will always remember her for her kindness, compassion, and her fun sense of humor. She could always be seen loving and inspiring them inside and outside of the classroom by hooking them on reading with the perfect book or attending sporting or club events after school. Beyond the classroom, she was an incredibly talented musician who could be seen playing flute, guitar, or piano. In recent years, she loved playing the bells at Seymour Evangelical Church and singing with her beautiful soprano voice at Meadowbrook services. In life, She and her late husband, Jeff, enjoyed traveling and attending various sporting events all around the US and spending time together in the great outdoors at their townhouse in Cable, WI. Most notably, Chris adored her seven grandchildren, as they were the light of her world. She rarely missed the opportunity to spend time with them, and they will forever cherish the endless love and patience she had whether they were swimming, enjoying cabin time, at soccer games, or sharing their hobbies of legos and games. 

Through her genuine kindness, her contagious goofiness, and her unwavering selflessness, Chris positively impacted all who met her.

Survivors include her two children, Richard "Rich" Kranz and fiancee Stacey Goodwin, Kimberly (Brett) Stauber; seven grandchildren, Chloe, Christina, Claire, and Carter, Everett, Emmett, and Elliott; sibling, Kurt (Kaaren) Arentsen; niece, Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Lowe, Brigitte (Aaron) Handevidt, nephew, Nathan Arentsen, Brenden Burmeister, great niece, Reese Handevidt, River Lowe, Amina Vasquez Arentsen, great nephew, Riley Handevidt; brother-in-law, Gary Kranz, sister-in-law, Patrice Burmeister; colleague/best friend/sister, Shannon Nelson, and special friend, Norman Dorn. 

Preceded in death by her parents; spouse, Jeff; brother, Mark Arentsen. 

A celebration of life for Chris will be held on August 2nd in Green Bay. Further details will be shared closer to the date of the service. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Prevea, St Vincent Hospital, Unity Hospice, and Brookview Meadows. 

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations payable to the Chris Kranz Memorial Fund. Money raised from the fund will go to cancer research and for memorial benches in her name.