Agnes Kruse

Agnes C. Kruse, 91, of Mt. Pleasant, died Wednesday, January 16, 2013, at Park Place Elder Living. A visitation will be held on Friday, January 18, 2013, beginning after 12 noon at the Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel. The Rosary will be recited at 3:00 p.m. A Christian Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Memorial Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 19th, at St. John's Catholic Church in Houghton, IA, with the Reverend Gary Beckman, celebrant. Inurnment will be in St. John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a general memorial in honor of Agnes Kruse has been established. Born July 16, 1921, in Ft. Madison, IA, Agnes Caroline Kruse was the daughter of Edward and Adelaide (Bendlage) Mansheim. She attended Scrub Oak and Sawyer country schools. On April 22, 1941, she married Lawrence Kruse at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ft. Madison, IA. He preceded her in death on January 22, 1998. Agnes enjoyed life on the farm where she would maintain a vegetable and flower garden. Always a homemaker, she would lovingly cook, bake, can and freeze the harvest of her vegetable garden for her family. She was an avid card player and an enthusiastic bidder up to the last weeks of her life. She took special pride in her bell collection showcasing many states, sites and countries. Agnes loved a good joke and would tease which often caused her to break into giggles and laughter. The matriarch of her family, she will be missed and remembered for her steadfastness, faith and perseverance. A member of St John's Catholic Church, Agnes belonged to the Altar and Rosary Society, and the Daughters of Isabella. She also belonged to a sewing and quilting group in Houghton. She and Lawrence were active in a square dance club. Survivors include: six children, Wayne (Margaret) Kruse of La Canada, CA, Larry (Jean) Kruse of Donnellson, IA, Vic (Linda) Kruse of Salem, IA, Chuck (Laurie) Kruse of Cypress, TX, Margie (Ken) Bodensteiner of Marion, IA, and Ginny (Rocky) Roland of Bastrop, TX; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Evelyn Westfall of Ft. Madison, IA, and Alice Snyder of Burlington, IA; and a brother, Ed (Iris) Mansheim of Ft. Madison, IA. Preceding Agnes in death are her parents; husband, Lawrence; a daughter Patricia Kruse; a grandson, Jordan Kruse, a sister, Betty Meierotto; and a brother, Robert Mansheim.