Rudolph Kruse, 84 of Pipestone passed away Sunday, June 1, 2008 at
the Ashton Care Center in Pipestone, MN

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, June 7th at 10:30a.m. at
Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 6:00-8:00p.m. at the Tyler
Area Funeral Home with a 7:30p.m. prayer service. Visitation will
continue at the church on Saturday, one hour prior to the service.

Interment at Diamond Lake Cemetery - Diamond Lake Township.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the
American Cancer Society or the Pipestone County Hospice.

Rudolph (Rudy) August Kruse was born near Boyden, Iowa, October 23,
1923, the youngest of 11 children of Peter and Anna (Schumacher)
Kruse. He attended St. John’s Parochial School through 8th grade.
Rudy confirmed his baptismal vows at St. John’s Lutheran church on
March 21, 1937.As a young lad, he learned the art of farming, animal
husbandry, and repairing machinery. Although Rudy volunteered for
service in WWII, the draft board deferred him to serve on the family
farm. On June 20, 1947, he and Anna Mae Troubaugh were united in
marriage at St. John’s Lutheran of rural Boyden. To this union were
born three sons and one daughter: Allen, Paul, Neil and Susan. He
moved to Minnesota with his wife and children in 1957, where they
labored on their dairy farm until retirement in 1986. Rudy was a
very progressive, innovative farmer. He was also a Vinton seed
representative. As a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton,
he ushered and served on the church council. In his spare time he
fished for the great game fish, the bullhead. Early in retirement he
was drawn back to work by the Ramsdell Chemical Company, where he
drove tender truck. During retirement, Rudy became avid about his
daily soap opera. He loved polka music—watching Lawrence Welk and
traveling to New Ulm for Heritagefest, and had a wonderful sense of
humor, which included joking in German with relatives who understood
the language.As a passionate farmer, Rudy was also a conservationist,
electrician, inventor, veterinarian, recycler, a “Jack of all
trades”, and a cancer survivor.
Surrounded by his family, Rudy entered his heavenly home on June 1,
2008 at the Ashton Care Center in Pipestone, a result of
hemochromatosis. He was 84 years, 5 months and 8 days old.
He is preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, four sisters
and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be lovingly remembered by
his family and friends. Rudy is survived by his wife of nearly 61
years, Anna Mae of Verdi; three sons: Allen D. (Linda) Kruse of
Marshall, Paul D. Kruse of Woodland, CA, Neil J. Kruse (special
friend Jeanine Alexander) of Mounds View, and one daughter Susan D.
(Ronald) Honken of Raymond; three beloved granddaughters who brought
great joy to his life: Amanda Sisco-Kruse, Kristina & Emily Honken.