Leslie E. Kruse

IN MEMORY OF
LESLIE E. KRUSE

BORN
August 7, 1927
O’Brien County, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
January 4, 2010
Orange City, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE
1:30 P.M. Saturday, January 9, 2010
St. John Lutheran Church; Germantown, Iowa
Rev. Donald Erickson ~ Officiating

VISITATION
will be after 3 P.M. Wednesday
with the Family present from 5 to 7 P.M.
at the Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home in Paullina.

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
“Lift High The Cross”
“Rock of Ages”
“I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
Organist: Jolene Erickson

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Tiffany Bahrenfuss Jillian Kruse
Cassandra Kruse Noelle Kruse
Traven Bahrenfuss Teagen Bahrenfuss
CASKET BEARERS
Anthony Durst Tracy Bahrenfuss
Heath Mews Paul Puhrmann
Doug Radunz Fred Kruse

FINAL RESTING PLACE
St. John Lutheran Cemetery ~ Germantown, Iowa

After the graveside service relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements under the care of the:
Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home
LESLIE E. KRUSE

Leslie Emil Kruse, the fourth child of John and Ida (Pauling) Kruse was born on August 7, 1927 on the family farm in Caledonia Township, O’Brien County, Iowa. He was baptized on September 4, 1927 at St. John Lutheran Church in Germantown. He received his elementary education at St. John Lutheran School in Germantown and was confirmed on May 17, 1942 at St. John Lutheran Church. Les was united in marriage to Mary Jane Uden of Ocheyedan on November 4, 1951 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Ocheyedan. He spent all his farming years on the Kruse family farm where he was born. In Les’ farming operation, his first love was raising hogs. His wife preceded him in death on April 20, 2005 in Orange City. Les spent his retirement years on the family farm. He passed away on Monday, January 4, 2010 at the Orange City Hospital reaching the age of 82 years, 4 months and 27 days.
Les was a life-long and faithful member of St. John Lutheran Church in Germantown. He held offices in the church as an Elder, Trustee, school board member, PTL and Lutheran Laymen’s League. He also was on the Board of Directors for Farmers Mutual Insurance for O’Brien County for 22 years. In his early married years, he was a fast pitch softball pitcher for Germantown. He also loved to bowl for Pauling’s Grocery in Paullina and the couple enjoyed their yearly fishing trip to Ottertail.
Les is survived by his children, Peggy and her husband, Tom Tesch of Paullina; Terry and his wife, Debbie Kruse of Sutherland and Sherry and her husband, Dudley Durst of Primghar; 5 grandchildren, Tiffany and her husband, Tracy Bahrenfuss of Primghar; Anthony Durst of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Jillian and her fiancé, Heath Mews; Cassandra and Noelle Kruse all of Sutherland; 2 great-grandsons, Traven Dean Bahrenfuss and Teagen Douglas Bahrenfuss; a sister and her husband, LaVera and Clifford Puhrmann and a sister-in-law, Lucille Kruse all of Germantown; also nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his parents, a sister and her husband, Leona and Elmer Herzberg and a brother, Lorenz Kruse.