William Lewis "Bill" Kruse

KRUSE

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 2/8/2007 at 18:44:53

Kruse, William Lewis "Bill"
September 17, 1940 - January 13, 2007
Denison Bulletin/Review
2/8/2007

William (Bill) Lewis Kruse was born September 17, 1940, the son of Henry and Helen V. Finnegan Kruse. He died Saturday, January 13, 2007 at the Denison Care Center in Denison, Iowa at the age of sixty-six.

Bill was born in Denison, Iowa and received his elementary education at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, and graduated from the Denison Community High School with the class of 1958. On February 24, 1958, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of Private First Class. He served his country with the Radio Company until February 24, 1964, when he was honorably discharged. In 1965, he was united in marriage to Joyce Hast in Denison, Iowa. The couple made their home in Denison and were blessed with the birth of two daughters. On October 5, 1991, Bill was united in marriage to Sharon (Spinar) Nielsen at United Methodist Church in Denison. Bill was employed in the Crawford County Engineers office as an Administrative Assistant, a job which he held for thirty-seven years.

In his spare time, Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, watching television, and working crossword puzzles. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Denison City Council from 1991 to 1995 and Alcoholics Anonymous for sixteen years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two infant children. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sharon of Denison; five children: Colleen McLaughlin and her husband, Wayne of Denison; Kathy Fetters of Bentonville, Arkansas; Marjeena (Jeena) Nielsen of Omaha, Nebraska; David (Guy) Nielsen of Hendersonville, North Carolina; and Dolores (Dorrie) Avalos of Omaha, Nebraska; ten grandchildren, Corey and Kurtis McLaughlin of Denison; Raechel Hollander and Sarah Fetters of Bentonville, Arkansas; Andrew Nielsen of Denison; Cody and Dakota Boger of Denison; Jared Swagel of Missouri; Alejandro Nielson of Omaha, Nebraska; and Anna Kay Nielsen of Denison; one sister, Lois Carstens and her husband, Bill of Perry, Iowa; two brothers, Robert Kruse of Winslow, Arizona; and Larry Kruse of Harlan, Iowa; his father and mother-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Bohous Spinar of Omaha, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law, Barbara Knapp of Las Vegas, Nevada; and Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Hetrick of Grand Island, Nebraska; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Memorial services were held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 20, 2007 at First United Methodist Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. Alberta Ervin officiated the services. Organist Patti Bekkerus provided accompaniment for a vocal quartet including Perry Bekkerus, Jeff Nelson, Nancy Miles, and Pat Roush as they sang "The Lord's Prayer," "On Eagle's Wings," and "Ave Maria." Those serving a honorary pallbearers were Raechel Hunter, Kurtis McLaughlin, Anna Kay Nielsen, Andrew Nelson, Sarah Fetters, Corey McLaughlin, Alejandro Nielsen, Dakota Boger, Jared Swagel, and Cody Boger. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post No. 8 of Denison, Iowa, with Fr. Paul Kelly as bugler. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them in fellowship and lunch served by the Methodist Women. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.