Kristin Marie Ploeger Sanders

Kristin Marie Ploeger Sanders - July 10, 1968 - July 31, 2023

Kristi was born to the late Dan & Marlene (Krizek) Ploeger on July 10th, 1968. The youngest of three children, she was raised in Bay Settlement where she resided until the last 10 years of her life. She attended Wequiock Elementary, Edison Junior High and Preble High School, graduating with the class of 1986. She had a couple long-term jobs that she truly loved and where she made life-long friendships; including working for Don Peters at Uncle Sam’s Fireworks and the TRiO-Upward Bound program at UWGB. What she loved most was doing her crafts (Kristi’s Kreations) and her creative side was able to shine when she opened Say it in Vinyl in 2018.

Kristi was a talented, loving, determined, funny, ambitious, caring, family-oriented woman who was independent and smarter than she ever gave herself credit for. She would do anything for her girls and her family, was especially close to her mother, and spent most of her time and energy raising, helping or just being with all of them. She loved to laugh, play cards and dice, drink beers and margaritas, gamble, scrapbook, crochet, craft and listen to music. There were many weekends filled with friends, kickball games, concerts, cookouts, garage beers, fires and family trips with Kacie and “Krissa” when they were young. Above all she was a fiercely devoted mother and grandmother, a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt, wife and friend. 

She lost her year-long battle with cancer on July 31st, 2023. She put up a hell of a fight and her sharp wit, smart mouth, take-no-nonsense attitude and feisty spirit will always be remembered. Her laugh, her smile and her love are the things that will be missed the most. One of her favorite quotes was, “people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime” and whatever she may have been in yours it was definitely special and you were lucky to have had it. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Marlene (Krizek) Ploeger, father and mother-in-law Robert & Judith Sanders and sister-in-law Lisa Ploeger.

She is survived by her daughters, Kimberly Ploeger, Kaitlyn Ploeger and Kacie Sanders. Father of her girls, there for her until the very end, Kevin Sanders. Favorite granddaughter, Korissa Larsen-Ploeger. Two brothers Kurt Ploeger, and his son Jake Ploeger, and Kirby Ploeger (Vicki Park). Uncle and Aunt Dave and Mary Ellen Krizek. Additionally she is survived by many wonderful cousins, the extended Sanders family and close and special friends including; Amy Mannering, Tammy Kristof, the Haslitt family, Heather Collier, Gail Knaus-Close, Joan Larsen, Tori Nelson, Raylene LeMieux and Michelle Bougie Kuehl. 

Her family would like to extend special thanks and their deepest appreciation to: 

Tom Anderson, Bob Kiehnau and the staff at Black Sheep Pub & Grill for their warm, heartfelt and constant support for everyone and through everything; and to the regulars and all of the friends that were made there as well.

Also to Ron and Linda Schultz, the staff and her friends at Tundra Sports Bar, one of her favorite places where she made many new friends and memories in her final years. 

Tera Hansen at State Street Pub for her wonderful and cherished friendship, all of her help and support and for organizing Kristi’s fundraiser. 

To her boss, Daren, and the staff at Imperial Supplies where she last worked before her diagnosis; the care you all showed for her over the last year was above and beyond what she ever could have hoped for and it was something she spoke of often. 

Finally to Annie, Aubrey, Dr. Karkera, Dr. Bennett and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center team. 

She was lucky to have you all and your kindness and love will never be forgotten.