#1-7 July, 1921 - The Tribune - William Kruse

WILLIAM KRUSE OF FT. CALHOUN DIED ON JUNE 30TH

William Kruse, a grand German retired farmer, and for years a city councilman in Ft. Calhoun, Washington county, Nebr., died after a brief illness in an Omaha hospital at noon on June 30, 1921.

He left Germany when 26 years old, and came to Omaha May 4, 1875, and his first employment was digging potatoes on the Schwager farm for the late veteran and hotel keeper, Fred Jipp. He then began by the month for the late pioneer, Peter Klindt, and our friendship began as we both pitched straw from a threshing machine for Klindt. By hard work and close saving he was able to buy 160 acres of land in three years, but had begun farming for himself on what is now known as the Peck farm. He was married to a daughter of the grand pioneer, the late Paul Stoltenberg. He leaves his wife, six sons, Henry, William, Jr., Ernest, Otto, the proprietor of one of our large department stores, Hugo and Waldo; and two daughters, Mrs. George Neale and young Miss Helen at home, and three living brothers.

When he came from the farm and built his beautiful bungalow, he was the first citizen to put electric wires in a new building, for lights that was to come a couple of years later.

The funeral was held Sunday at the residence, Rev. Frank of the Presbyterian church officiating. Mrs. Charles Rathjen and Mrs. Joe Bolin rendered the music. There was an immense gathering from Coffman, DeSoto and surrounding country. Among others from Blair were Frank Jahnel and Claus Bolin; from Omaha, Benson, Bennington and Douglas county, W. Sierk, Henry Michaelsen, Gus Bunz, John Boettger, Henry Steffen, W. Lehman, Hans Kull, Mads Mortensen and wife, Hans Stoltenberg, Abe Milligan and part of his family, Herman Melatz, Egert Ohrt, George and Ed Stoltenberg, Mr. and Mrs. Boss and three Voss brothers who were born in this township and others.

The pallbearers were Tim Ohrt, William Frahm, Jacob Sierk, Fritz Moller, W. Lemon and Hans Kull. The streets were lined with between fifty and sixty autos in addition to people who came on foot.

#2-The date of this newspaper article, published in the Fort Calhoun Chronicle, was not recorded.

Wm. Kruse, Sr., was born in Holstein, Germany, Oct. 14, 1848 and died June 30, 1921, at the Swedish Mission hospital, Omaha, from the effects of an operation performed days before.

As a young man Mr. Kruse came to the United States in 1875. He began his career in America as a farm hand, working on a farm south of Calhoun, and by industry and thrift gradually acquired the means to become the farmer of one of Washington counties finest farms. He was married April 13, 1881, to Miss Minnie Stoltenberg who, with their six sons and two daughters, survive him. The children are: Henry, Otto, Mrs. George Neale, William, Ernest, Hugo, Helen, and Waldo. Three brothers, Henry, Fritz and Detlef, also mourn his departure.

In December 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Kruse, with Helen and Waldo, removed from the farm to their fine new home in Calhoun. Mr. Kruse took an active interest in the municipal affairs of the town, having been elected as member of the city council three times, which office he held at the time of his death. He was a fine type of foreign-born American citizenship and a splendid example of what a young man whose capital is health, industry and thrift can accomplish.

The funeral services, held at the home Sunday afternoon, were conducted by Rev. C. J. Frank, a large number of old friends and neighbors paying the final tribute to a worthy and esteemed citizen. The six sons of the deceased acted as pallbearers. Burial was made in the Ft. Calhoun Cemetery.

Find A Grave Memorial# 18175903