KRUSE, Karen 1907-2006

KRUSE

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/25/2006 at 17:06:36

Karen Kruse, 98, formerly of Northwood, died Tuesday (Jan. 17, 2006) in the home of her granddaughter with family at her side in Escondido, Calif.

The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, Highway 65 South in Northwood, with the Rev. Wayne Hagen officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Rest Cemetery, Northwood.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. today at Schroeder and Sites Funeral Home, in Northwood.

Karen was born March 18, 1907, in Copenhagen, Denmark, the daughter of Marie and Paul Pedersen. Karen traveled to the United States in 1913 with her parents and siblings and settled in Northwood. She attended school in Northwood and was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Northwood.

She was united in marriage to Vernon A. Kruse on March 27, 1926, in Northwood. They lived and farmed east of Northwood until Vern died in 1958. Karen continued to live on the farm with her son, Kenneth, until he died in 1995. She then moved to Northwood and resided with her daughter, Charlotte (Susie), and husband, Bob, until Susie died in 2004. Since that time, she has divided her time between her granddaughters, Karen (Paul) Hendrikson of Escondido, Calif., and Laura (Mike) Richter of Cedar Falls.

Karen was an avid seamstress, cook, gardener, and helped on the farm. After moving, she continued sewing and reading and writing letters as long as her health allowed, but her greatest enjoyment was her family and grandchildren. Her greatest strength was her memory; she was a great historian and family resource. Her family loved to hear her recall memories that ranged from crossing the ocean with her family at the age of six, to fishing trips up north, to harvesting corn by hand.

Left to cherish her memory are granddaughters, Karen and husband, Paul Hendrikson, of Escondido, Calif., and Laura and husband, Mike Richter, of Cedar Falls; a great-granddaughter, Michelle, and husband, Juan Torres, of Poway, Calif.; great-great-grandsons, Paul and Zackary Torres; great-grandson, Michael Hendrikson and wife, Jennifer, of Ramona, Calif.; great-great-grandson, Dylan; great-granddaughter, Beth Richter of Leadville, Colo.; step-grandsons, Jason Richter, wife Sheila, and their children, Alexis and Collin, of Cedar Falls, and Chad Richter, wife Melanie, their children, Grace and Gavin, of Cedar Falls; step-granddaughter, Megan, her children, Jake and Tyler, of Waterloo; son-in-law, Robert (Bob) Sistek, Northwood; along with several nieces, nephews, and friends.

Preceding Karen in death was her parents; husband, Vernon; son, Kenneth; daughter, Susie; a sister, Clara Whitesell; and brothers, Erik and Elmer Pedersen.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, Jan. 22, 2006