"I always enjoyed talking with Bruce. He was a very nice and kind man. Lori - My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family."
In loving memory of
Bruce Kruse
January 25, 1931 - March 22, 2021
Dr. Bruce T. Kruse, age 90, of Quincy, died on Monday, March 22, 2021 at 1:48 am in Blessing Hospital.
Bruce was born on January 25, 1931 in rural Butler County, Iowa to Corneil and Anna Kruse. After graduating from Shell Rock High School in 1948, he attended Iowa State Teachers College, graduating in 1951. He was then awarded a scholarship to Boston University, completing his Master's degree in 1952 prior to his induction into the United States Army, stationed in Korea.
In 1955 he taught at Guernsey Iowa High School and in 1956 at Estherville Junior College in Estherville, Iowa. In 1957 he began teaching at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. While attending the University of Iowa during the summer of 1959, he met Lorainne Nolting shortly before her move to California. Following her return to Iowa in the summer of 1960, they were married in Denver, Iowa and immediately moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he taught at Louisiana State University and received his doctoral degree in accounting. He returned to teach at Iowa State University in 1962 and joined the accounting faculty at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois in 1968 where he served as Chair of the accounting department for seventeen years, retiring from there in 1986. While teaching at WIU, he also taught continuing professional education courses to practicing accountants in major East Coast cities for the Institute of Management Accounting. During his time in Macomb, he served on the Macomb City Council for six years, serving on the Police and Fire Commission and as Chair of the City/County Building Commission. During his tenure the Commission was responsible for financing and constructing the Elms Nursing Home.
Following his retirement from WIU he taught at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska for one year. In 1987 he joined the department of accounting at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN, retiring from there in 1997. In 2000, the couple moved to Quincy, Illinois.
Bruce is survived by his wife, Lorainne, a sister, Carol Ann Kruse, Shell Rock, Iowa and a sister-in-law, Doris Frank, Morgantown, Indiana; three children; Tamara (Scott) Roselius, Fairbanks, Alaska, Thomas Kruse, Las Vegas, Nevada and Terri (Barry) Schimmack, Eagle River, Alaska. In addition, he is survived by six grandchildren, Thomas and August Roselius, and Danya, Brett, Claire and Annika Schimmack.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents.
Bruce was a 60 year member of the American Legion, a 50 year member of the Elks Lodge and a Life member of Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of Vermont Street United Methodist Church and several local arts and historical organizations.
Visitation: 9:30 to 11:00 am on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with an Elks memorial service at 10:00 am. Please wear a mask if you plan to attend the visitation.
Memorial Service: 11:00 am on Saturday, April 3, 2021 at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home with Rev. Patty Johansen officiating. Full military honors conducted by American Legion Post #37 and the United States Army Funeral Honors Detail. Please wear a mask if you plan to attend the service.
A private committal service and inurnment will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Shell Rock, Iowa.
Memorials are suggested to Vermont Street United Methodist Church, Chaddock School, Quincy University Music Department, Elks National Foundation or a charity of the donor's choice. Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/
For those who wish to support the WIU Endowed Scholarship that is being created in Bruce's name, please use the following link and select "I would like to enter my own designation" and enter "The Bruce Kruse Endowed Scholarship Fund": https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/14693/donations/new
Or you may send a check payable to "WIU Foundation - Kruse" to the WIU Foundation, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455.
www.hansenpspear.com
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.
Tributes
"The Friends of the Log Cabins Board expresses their condolences to the Family. Bruce was a Friends of the Log Cabins Board member from August 2012 to May of 2015. Bruce and Lori have always been supportive of the Lincoln-era Log Cabin Village and I know he enjoyed seeing it being restored. Seeing him and Lori in the village enjoying Frontier Settlement Days will be etched in our memories. We will miss Bruce and his encouragement to ?save, restore and utilize? the 1800?s era Lincoln-era Log Cabin Village. "
"The Quincy Elks Lodge #100 has lost one of its most respected Elk member and Fraternal brother. Bruce membership with the Lodge lasted for 51 years. He was the most kindest man and will be greatly missed. Our sincere sympathy to Lorainne. Respectfully submitted by the Officers of the Quincy Elks Lodge #100"