Obituary
Pamela (Pam) Jayne Krigbaum of Marion, Iowa, passed away peacefully with her husband and son at her side on Tuesday March 11th in the early morning, at the age of 82. She spent the last four years of her life at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Pam was born June 26, 1942, at the San Diego Naval Hospital in California, to Ralph and Corinne Simons, high school sweethearts from Manchester, Iowa. When Pam was six months old, she and her mother returned to Iowa. Corinne later married John Robinson, and the family settled in Fairmont, Minnesota, where Pam graduated from high school in May 1960.
Following graduation, Pam enlisted in the U.S. Navy. She completed Boot Camp in Bainbridge, Maryland, and trained as an Aviation Storekeeper at the U.S. Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She was then stationed at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, California, where she met Gary Krigbaum, who was also serving in the Navy at Miramar Naval Air Station. They married on February 8, 1964, and recently celebrated 61 years of marriage.
Pam and Gary's daughter, Susan, was born at the same Naval Hospital where Pam was born. After Gary completed his two-term service in the Navy in 1967 and his degree in accounting, the family moved to Garden Grove, California, where their second daughter Twila was born. Gary's
career later took the family to Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where their son Matthew was born.
Pam cherished raising her three children in a close-knit neighborhood, forming lifelong friendships with two other families. Once Matthew began full-time elementary school, Pam became an active school volunteer, beloved and respected by students and teachers alike. As her children grew older, she re-entered the workforce. In 1991, Gary's job led them to Portland, Oregon, followed by moves to Chicago, Illinois, and Dallas, Texas. When Gary retired in 2008, they settled in Marion, Iowa, to be near Matthew and his family. In April 2021, Pam and Gary made their final move to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
Pam was a devoted grandmother who treasured time with her seven grandchildren: Emilia, Janoah, and Adelheid, daughters of Susan and her husband, Mark, of Ontario, Canada; and Ethan (Elizabeth), Dillon, Zachary, and Logan, sons of Matthew and his wife, Amy, of Marion, Iowa. Twila, who entered the ministry in 1996 to spread the Gospel, is currently serving in Taiwan.
Although their family moved frequently due to Gary's work, Pam formed lasting friendships wherever they lived, especially within the family of God. She loved potlucks, sharing meals with friends and family, and trying out new recipes. Her home was always open to friends and workers in the ministry.
Pam will be remembered for her generous and cheerful spirit, her deep love for her family, and the kindness she extended to everyone she met. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and she will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held on March 21, 2025, 10:30 am at Reunion Hall, Riverview Park, Marshalltown, Iowa, with a small reception immediately following. The interment of her cremains will take place at the Iowa Veterans Home Cemetery, Marshalltown, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made to her family in the care of Matthew Krigbaum, 2955 Meadow Glen St., Marion, IA, 52302.
Pam was born June 26, 1942, at the San Diego Naval Hospital in California, to Ralph and Corinne Simons, high school sweethearts from Manchester, Iowa. When Pam was six months old, she and her mother returned to Iowa. Corinne later married John Robinson, and the family settled in Fairmont, Minnesota, where Pam graduated from high school in May 1960.
Following graduation, Pam enlisted in the U.S. Navy. She completed Boot Camp in Bainbridge, Maryland, and trained as an Aviation Storekeeper at the U.S. Naval Air Technical Training Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She was then stationed at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, California, where she met Gary Krigbaum, who was also serving in the Navy at Miramar Naval Air Station. They married on February 8, 1964, and recently celebrated 61 years of marriage.
Pam and Gary's daughter, Susan, was born at the same Naval Hospital where Pam was born. After Gary completed his two-term service in the Navy in 1967 and his degree in accounting, the family moved to Garden Grove, California, where their second daughter Twila was born. Gary's
career later took the family to Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where their son Matthew was born.
Pam cherished raising her three children in a close-knit neighborhood, forming lifelong friendships with two other families. Once Matthew began full-time elementary school, Pam became an active school volunteer, beloved and respected by students and teachers alike. As her children grew older, she re-entered the workforce. In 1991, Gary's job led them to Portland, Oregon, followed by moves to Chicago, Illinois, and Dallas, Texas. When Gary retired in 2008, they settled in Marion, Iowa, to be near Matthew and his family. In April 2021, Pam and Gary made their final move to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
Pam was a devoted grandmother who treasured time with her seven grandchildren: Emilia, Janoah, and Adelheid, daughters of Susan and her husband, Mark, of Ontario, Canada; and Ethan (Elizabeth), Dillon, Zachary, and Logan, sons of Matthew and his wife, Amy, of Marion, Iowa. Twila, who entered the ministry in 1996 to spread the Gospel, is currently serving in Taiwan.
Although their family moved frequently due to Gary's work, Pam formed lasting friendships wherever they lived, especially within the family of God. She loved potlucks, sharing meals with friends and family, and trying out new recipes. Her home was always open to friends and workers in the ministry.
Pam will be remembered for her generous and cheerful spirit, her deep love for her family, and the kindness she extended to everyone she met. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, and she will be dearly missed.
A memorial service will be held on March 21, 2025, 10:30 am at Reunion Hall, Riverview Park, Marshalltown, Iowa, with a small reception immediately following. The interment of her cremains will take place at the Iowa Veterans Home Cemetery, Marshalltown, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be made to her family in the care of Matthew Krigbaum, 2955 Meadow Glen St., Marion, IA, 52302.
