64270_Thomas John “Kike”_Kruse

STACYVILLE | Thomas John “Kike” Kruse, 64, died Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, at his home in Stacyville.

Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Oratory, Meyer. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Meyer.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sacred Heart Oratory, Meyer. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements.

Thomas was born on Oct. 24, 1950, to Paul and LaVerna (Rawson) Kruse in Osage. Tom grew up on the farm east of Meyer. He attended school in Meyer and graduated from Riceville High School in 1968.

He worked for Co-op Oil hauling gas with the bulk truck and transport. He made many friends and acquaintances. In 1999 he started his own family business, Kruse & Company, with his son and son-in-law, until health made him quit his true passion of driving semi. He later worked at Grain Millers in St. Ansgar until he retired.

Tom loved playing softball. Anybody that knew him in his younger years knew where to find him on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday nights in the summer. He was at Riverside Ball Park and when he wasn’t playing he was umping the games. Tom also loved fishing the Cedar River and wading. Sometimes he would send you on a wild goose chase away from his honey holes of fish. His last great love was trapshooting with his two oldest grandsons.

Tom loved chasing all over the country to watch his kids playing in sports. He vary rarely missed a game or competition. His kids always knew he was there because you could hear his voice and that cackle — if you knew Tom, you know what they are talking about.

He also enjoyed all of his grandchildren. He was always talking about one of them, going out to their games or competitions of some sort. If it wasn’t ball for the girls, he was chasing after the high school trap team to watch his grandsons shoot. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew Mathew Kruse; niece Alyssa Kruse.

Tom is survived by his children, Shayne Maiers (Chris), John Kruse (KJ), Nathan Kruse (Amanda), Amanda Kruse (Brady); grandchildren, Cody (Anna) Hemann, Alex Maiers, Amaya Johnson, Brenna Kruse, Reece Kruse, Kylie Kruse, Bradyen Hunt; sister, Mary Olsen; brothers, Jerry Kruse, Jim Kruse, Robert (Sherry) Kruse, Richard (Connie) Kruse; nieces, Tiffany Kruse, Jennifer Olson, Christina James, Sara Hobbs, Heather Mills; nephews, Timothy Kruse, Cole Kruse, Micheal Kruse, Cory Kruse; great nieces and nephew and cousins.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, 641-713-4920, www.schroederandsites.com

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