Helen J. Kruse

Little Rock, Iowa Helen J. Kruse, age 88 of Little Rock, IA died Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Society in George. Funeral service will be 1:30 PM Saturday, March 5th at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA, with Rev. Brian Hellenga officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery at Little Rock. Visitation will be Friday, March 4th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home in George. Helen J. Kruse was born March 13, 1922 at the family farm near Edgerton, Minnesota, the daughter of Henry C. and Clara (Schoolmeester) Vander Kolk. She attended the Edgerton Community School. In 1937, Helens family moved Little Rock, IA, where Helen graduated from Little Rock High School in 1939. After graduation she worked as a telephone operator in Little Rock. She was united in marriage to Alfred Kruse on October 14, 1943 at her parents home in Little Rock. The couple lived on a farm northwest of Little Rock until moving into town in 1948, when Alfred and his brother, Richard bought a grain elevator in Little Rock named Kruse Bros. Helen helped with bookkeeping for many years. Helen was a member of the Salem Reformed Church; active with the Womens Group and taught Sunday school for many years. She also was a Jr. Christian Endeavor Teacher and active with the Elgin Homemakers Club. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, cooking and baking, especially homemade bread, for her family. She loved collecting Genealogy, which she put together 50 books filled with family history. Helens family was extremely special to her. She cherished the time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved to write poems and was able to continue to write them until recently. On April 20, 1999, Helens husband, Alfred died suddenly after almost 56 years of marriage. In the fall of 2007 she moved from the home she and Alfred built to Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon, IA. In the fall of 2008 she entered the Good Samaritan Society Home in George, IA, where she remained until this past Wednesday, March 2, 2011. She is survived by two children, LaDonna (husband, Roger) Kruse of Matlock, IA; Corwin (wife, Cristy) Kruse of St. Paul, MN; four grandchildren, Michael, Nathan, Sebastian and Gemma; three great-grandchildren, Chad, Alena and Draven; two step great-grandchildren, Alidea and Quinn; one sister, Dorothy Schubert of Little Rock, IA; one sister-in-law, Henrietta Vander Kolk; and many other extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Kruse; her parents, Henry and Clara Vander Kolk; a grandson, Angus Gaffney Kruse (son of Corwin and Cristy Kruse); one brother, Morris Vander Kolk; and one brother-in-law, Bill Schubert.