KRUSE, LaVonne 1933-2018

KRUSE, HARRENSTEIN, TERFEHN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:14

LaVonne Kruse, 84, of Iowa Falls, passed away on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, TX. Funeral services will be held 10:30 am May 18, 2018 at Kruse Main Auditorium on Ellsworth Community College campus with a lunch to follow at Highland Golf Course. Visitation will be 1 hour prior. The Surls Funeral Home of Iowa Falls are in charge of arrangements.

LaVonne Kruse passed away on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Dallas, Texas after an extended illness. As her family we feel an incredible loss, but are comforted by her sustained faith in Jesus Christ her Savior.

LaVonne (Harrenstein) Kruse was born May 28, 1933 in Wellsburg, Iowa. She was one of Alice Terfehn Harrenstein and Herman Harrenstein’s seven children. At the age of ten LaVonne took her first piano lesson. It didn't take long to know that she was a natural on the piano. She shared this talent in many different ways throughout her life up to three months ago when she could still gather a crowd at the care facility where she was living at the time of her death.

After graduating from Wellsburg High School in 1951, LaVonne attended colleges now known as Ellsworth Community College and University of Northern Iowa, earning a degree in elementary education. She taught for several years in the Dows and Ackley school systems. In 1955 she met and married the love of her life, Thomas A. Kruse. She supported Tom in starting Iowa Vet Supply, later called IVESCO, as well the interest they both had in philanthropy and supporting the Kingdom of God. With no fanfare our dear mother led many individuals to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. We know that was her greatest satisfaction. As such, she was a generous supporter of Campus Crusade for Christ and Athletes in Action.

Through the years, LaVonne had many interests. Perhaps many remember her love for golfing. She was active at Highland Country Club and was club champion several years in a row, even winning when she was 8 months pregnant with her daughter Lisa. She was a member of PEO, Christian Women’s Club, an avid bridge player and huge fan of the Iowa State Cyclones. LaVonne was an Ellsworth College trustee and received an honorary doctorate degree from Ellsworth in 2012. She was a lifelong supporter of the Ellsworth College Foundation and specifically supported the Pat Clark Art collection. During her time as trustee, she was also a catalyst for the 500,000 fund drive which resulted in the construction of the ECC indoor pool. The family also established the Kruse Family Endowed Scholarship for deserving Ellsworth college students. She will be dearly missed by her family and many friends.

LaVonne is survived by her children, Thomas Jason Kruse of Iowa Falls and Lisa Joy Kruse of Dallas Texas; grandchildren, Crissa (Oscar) Urizar Stephens, Cady (Casey) Schmidt, Nikolas Stephens, Thomas Jackson Kruse and Lucasey Long; great grandchildren Natalie, Maecy and Lila; sister, Marjorie (Tom) Teasdale; brother, Dennis Harrenstein; and many nieces and nephews; son-in-law Dan Stephens and daughter-in-law Karen Kruse.

She is preceded in death by her husband Thomas A. Kruse; daughter, Suzanne (Kruse) Stephens; and family Esther (Harrenstein) Muller; Harris Harrenstein; Mabel (Harrenstein) Claassen; Alvin Harrenstein.

In Lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to The Kruse Family Foundation, 9550 Hickman Rd, Suite 100, Clive, IA 50325.

--Surls Funeral Homes (www.surls.com)