NWA Capt. Gene Rudell Kragness

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, NWA Capt. Gene Rudell Kragness

January 10, 1940 - September 16, 2025

 

Gene was hired by Northwest Airlines January 9, 1967. Gene went on to have a 33-year career as a pilot for Northwest Airlines, most notably as a 747-400 Captain and serving for several years in senior roles with the Airline Pilots Association and the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations……………………..

 

Widowed in August 2007 with the passing of his wife Cindy, Gene is survived by his children and grandchildren.  A private memorial for family to honor Gene will be held in the near future.

 

PCN memorial site

 

https://obituaries.startribune.com/obituary/gene-kragness-1093259282

 

Gene Rudell Kragness Obituary

Cape Coral, FL - Gene Rudell Kragness, age 85, of Cape Coral, Florida, former longtime resident of Edina, Minnesota, died peacefully on September 16, 2025. Gene was born in Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1958. After graduation, Gene volunteered for the draft and served two years in the U.S. Army. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 1960, where he was a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity and graduated with distinction in 1964. Gene went on to have a 33-year career as a pilot for Northwest Airlines, most notably as a 747-400 Captain and serving for several years in senior roles with the Airline Pilots Association and the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations.

 

Gene enjoyed the outdoors with a passion for boating, hunting, fishing, and relaxing on a warm afternoon in the Florida sun. He had an excellent sense of humor and was the best storyteller. He was also an avid reader and never without an opinion or topic to discuss. Gene dearly loved his children and grandchildren, and whether in Florida or at the lake, he cherished time spent with them.

 

Gene was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cindy; mother, Norma; father, Glenn; brother, Rick; and several special hunting dogs. He is survived by his daughters, Kirsten Moertel (Chris) and Betsy Grossman (Matt); son, Geoff Kragness (Annie); and grandchildren, Christian & Sophie Hedrick; Luke, Amelia & Will Moertel; Eliza & Frances Grossman; and Leighton & Grady Kragness.

 

Gene was a devoted member at Zion Lutheran Church in Ft. Myers, FL and the family wishes to thank them and the Windsor of Cape Coral for their loving care and support. A private memorial for family to honor Gene will be held in the near future.

https://www.washburn-mcreavy.com/obituaries/Cynthia-Fredrickson-Kragness-92511534/#!/TributeWall 

Obituary for Cynthia (Fredrickson) Kragness

Kragness, Cynthia Jayne (nee Fredrickson) age 58, of Cape Coral, Florida, former longtime resident of Edina, died peacefully surrounded by her family on August 10, 2007, after a valiant 4-year battle with ovarian cancer. Cindy was a devoted wife, loving mother, cherished sister and true friend. A talented artist, seamstress, painter, interior decorator, cook and the best mom ever, Cindy also had a master's degree in special education with a reading and math specialty. Cindy taught at Creek Valley Elementary in Edina, and more recently at Heights Elementary in Ft. Myers, Florida. She was a gifted teacher, she loved her job and her students excelled because of her. For all her life, Cindy was optimistic, with a finely-honed sense of humor and boundless energy. She faced her cancer diagnosis with her customary determination and fought it to the end with courage and grace. …………………………