KEVIN KRUSE

Thursday, May 5, 2016 2:07 pm

Kevin Kruse, age 55, of Waukon, IA, died on Thursday, April 28, 2016, at Gundersen Health System in LaCrosse, Wis., from injuries he received in a fall.

Services were Wednesday, May 4, at 11 a.m. at Decorah Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Doug Bryce officiating. Organist was Kathy Murray and soloist was Don Dilaura. Hymns included “Amazing Grace,” “Go Rest High on  That Mountain,” “Ten Thousand Reasons.” Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Cresco. Casket bearers were his six brothers: Edward Kruse, Dennis Kruse, Harvey Kruse, Larry Kruse, Paul Kruse and Joel Kruse.

Kevin Alex Kruse was born on June 27, 1960, in Cresco, Iowa, the son of Linus and Lucille (Reicks) Kruse. He grew up on a farm near Cresco. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1979. He attended Northeast Iowa Area Community College in 1980-1981, earning a certification for auto body repair. During that time and continuing until 1987, he also worked at Wisconsin Dairies in Cresco. Beginning in 1987, he worked at Foremost Farms in Waukon, where he became proficient in operating the dryer. After the Waukon facility closed in 2009, he worked for a while at the Foremost Farms facility in Preston, Minnesota. In November 2011, Kevin returned to Waukon to assist with remodeling the former Foremost Farms plant site. When production began at the new Aveka Nutra Processing facility in Waukon, Kevin once again operated the dryer. He was a key employee: skilled, experienced and reliable, who frequently worked the night shift.

Kevin was a kind person, with a gentle sense of humor. He found strength in his faith and was glad when his new position at Aveka allowed him to take Sundays off so that he could attend church.  He was a member of the Christian Life Center in Freeport.

Kevin was a talented mechanic and enjoyed restoring Ford Mustangs and Thunderbirds.

He is survived by six brothers: Edward (Inez) Kruse, Dennis Kruse and Harvey Kruse, all of Cresco; Larry Kruse of Ankeny; Paul (Kelly) Kruse, Crown Point, IN: Joel (Patty) Kruse, Ridgeway; his three sisters: Marilyn (Joe) Kollasch of Ames, Norine Kruse of Spokane, Wash., and Sheila (Darren) Hovland of Plymouth, Minn.; four nephews: Isaac Kruse, Jonathan and Jeffrey Kollasch, and Nathan Kruse; two nieces: Melia Kruse and Elizabeth Kruse, her daughter Alexis; along with several aunts and uncles, and numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents Linus and Lucille Kruse.