Clifford Alan Kruse
August 31, 1956 — July 4, 2016
Clifford Alan Kruse was born on August 31, 1956 to Harley and Teresa (Pfeifer) Kruse in Harlan, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa. He attended St. Michael’s Catholic and Westridge Elementary Schools, graduating from Harlan Community High School with the Class of 1975.
Clifford attended Army basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, in 1975. He was stationed in fort Rucker, Alabama until January of 1976, when he went with the 56th Artillery A13 Platoon to Stugard, Germany. On June 9, 1977, he was honorably discharged.
On May 22, 1982, he was united in marriage to Jane Stessman at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. They became parents to three children: Jennifer, Kevin, and Jeff and went their separate ways in 2004.
He worked at Farmland in Denison, Iowa, Clark Red-E Mix, and Sta-Bilt before joining his dad in the Kruse Trucking business in 1982. After nine years, he left the family business and went to work for Farm service Co-Op for twenty-five years where he remained until February of 2016. Cliff drove 3.7 million miles without any type of accident.
Clifford’s favorite activities were riding his motorcycle, camping, going to the races, golfing, football, and spending quality time with his children, grandchildren, and family.
Clifford died at his home on Monday, July 4, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. He had attained the age of fifty-nine years, ten months, and four days. He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his children: Jennifer and her husband Chris Rasmussen of Johnston, Iowa, Kevin Kruse and his wife Samantha of Redfield, Iowa, and Jeff Kruse and his fiancé Shelby Messersmith of Bouton, Iowa; four grandchildren: Riley and Kaden Rasmussen, Makenna Kruse, and Quinn Kruse; mother Teresa Kruse of Harlan; sister Karen and her husband Mick Patkalitsky of Centennial, Colorado; brothers Paul Kruse and his wife Virginia of Harlan, Jim Kruse and his wife Shelly of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Gene Kruse and his wife Lynn of Portage, Michigan, and Jon Kruse and his wife Ann of Draper, Utah; his friend Michelle Blum of Harlan; other family members and many friends.
Clifford attended Army basic training at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, in 1975. He was stationed in fort Rucker, Alabama until January of 1976, when he went with the 56th Artillery A13 Platoon to Stugard, Germany. On June 9, 1977, he was honorably discharged.
On May 22, 1982, he was united in marriage to Jane Stessman at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. They became parents to three children: Jennifer, Kevin, and Jeff and went their separate ways in 2004.
He worked at Farmland in Denison, Iowa, Clark Red-E Mix, and Sta-Bilt before joining his dad in the Kruse Trucking business in 1982. After nine years, he left the family business and went to work for Farm service Co-Op for twenty-five years where he remained until February of 2016. Cliff drove 3.7 million miles without any type of accident.
Clifford’s favorite activities were riding his motorcycle, camping, going to the races, golfing, football, and spending quality time with his children, grandchildren, and family.
Clifford died at his home on Monday, July 4, 2016 surrounded by his loving family. He had attained the age of fifty-nine years, ten months, and four days. He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his children: Jennifer and her husband Chris Rasmussen of Johnston, Iowa, Kevin Kruse and his wife Samantha of Redfield, Iowa, and Jeff Kruse and his fiancé Shelby Messersmith of Bouton, Iowa; four grandchildren: Riley and Kaden Rasmussen, Makenna Kruse, and Quinn Kruse; mother Teresa Kruse of Harlan; sister Karen and her husband Mick Patkalitsky of Centennial, Colorado; brothers Paul Kruse and his wife Virginia of Harlan, Jim Kruse and his wife Shelly of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Gene Kruse and his wife Lynn of Portage, Michigan, and Jon Kruse and his wife Ann of Draper, Utah; his friend Michelle Blum of Harlan; other family members and many friends.
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