Rev. Robert E. Kruse Services Held at Pender

The Reverend Mr. Robert Ernest Kruse, son of the late Henry Kruse and his wife Maria, nee Hokamp, was born at Arlington, Nebr., April 17, 1897. He began his preparatory studies for the ministry at St. John’s College, Winfield, Kans., where he graduated in 1917. He graduated from Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Mo., in the spring of 1921. On Aug. 28, 1921, he was joined in marriage to Magdalena Wolter at Arlington, Nebr. This union was blessed with five children, four sons and one daughter, of whom one son preceded his parents in death, very shortly after his birth on Oct. 10, 1923. On March 16, 1935, it pleased God to call home the wife, who died while the departed was pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Pender, Nebr. He was joined in marriage with Laura Beckman of Pender at Omaha, Nebr. Febr. 13, 1937.

After his ordination at Arlington, Nebr., Aug.7. 1921, he was installed as pastor at Clarendon, Tex., Sept. 11th of that year. Thereafter he served St. John’s Lutheran at Pender from Oct. 22, 1922 until he was called to St. John’s Lutheran at Wakefield on Dec. 12, 1943. There he served for ten years and then followed the call to serve as institutional missionary at Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, Wisc. In 1953, Rev. Kruse served the Northern Nebraska District as Circuit Visitor, as a member pf the Board of Finances, and on other committees for many years. He suffered a heart attack on Monday morning, Sept. 15, at his home at Chippewa Falls and passed away after an illness of less than an hour. On the preceding Sunday he had performed all the duties of his ministry and apparently was in fine health. Thus it pleased God to call his faithful servant home. His work on earth was done.

The Rev. Robert Kruse attained an age of 61 years, 4 months and 29 days. He is survived by his beloved wife Laura; three sons, Eugene of Omaha and Donald and Allen of Chicago; one daughter, Sharon, who is still at home; four grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Martha Henrichsen, Addison, Ill.; Mrs. Erna Wolf, Cole Camp, Mo.; and Mrs. Frieda Brase, Beatrice, Nebr., and many other relatives and friends who were also deeply grieved and mourn his departure.

Funeral services were held at Zion Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls, Wis., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, The Rev. Ira Grimm, pastor of that congregation, officiated and delivered the sermon. Rev. L. Goetz of Nekoosa, Wis., president of the North Wisconsin Dist. Of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, delivering a brief address. The body was transported to West Point, Nebr., where it lay in state on Thursday morning, Sept. 18, at the Ray Smith Funeral Parlor, until it was removed to St. John’s Lutheran Church at Pender for funeral services there, conducted at 2:00 p.m. on that day. At this service, the Reverent W.J. Oetting, Madison, Nebr., delivered the sermon Rev. Walter E. Homann of Bancroft, Nebr., honorary president of the Northern Dist. of the Lutheran Church-Mo. Synod, spoke in the name of that district and read the obituary. The local pastor, the Rev. H.L. Hennig, conducted the altar service. The Rev. H.M. Roth, Pilger, Nebr., as soloist, sang two appropriate hymns.

Burial services were conducted at the cemetery of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Arlington, Nebr., the Rev. Carl Hellmann officiating.

~~~obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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