Memorials › Leland Kenneth Kruse

Leland Kenneth Kruse

25 Sep 1929 – 6 May 2018

Birth25 Sep 1929
Death6 May 2018
CemeteryCity of Taylor Cemetery
Taylor , Williamson County , Texas , USA
Added byJoe Eckols on 04 Feb 2019
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189553778

Gravesite details

SHARES A HEADSTONE WITH GLADIOLA LOUISE MARTIN KRUSE (#251662903), HIS WIFE.

Bio

Leland Kenneth Kruse, 88, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family at his home on Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Taylor, Texas. He was born in Coupland, Texas, on September 25, 1929, to Erna Christine Etzel Kruse and Gustav Wenzel Kruse. Leland was baptized on March 16, 1930, and confirmed on April 18, 1943, in Saint Peter's Church in Coupland. While in Coupland, Leland worked for Mercantile Store and Speckels Grocery. He attended Coupland School and later transferred to Thrall School when the family moved to the New Bern area in 1946. He graduated from Thrall on May 26, 1948. After graduation, he joined his brother Wilburn in painting signs for Gulf Oil in East Texas. From 1951-1953 he served with the U. S. Army in the Korean War. After returning home from the service, Leland started working for Texas Power & Light in Taylor and later for Industrial Generating Company (IGC) in Rockdale. When he was laid off from IGC, he enrolled in Barber School in Austin. Barber School was just not his calling, so when IGC made him an offer to come back to work, he returned. After being laid off a second time, he decided to move forward with plans to do the job he felt like he was called to do. In April 1958, Leland opened his own electrical business, Leland Kruse Electric Service, with his wife as the bookkeeper. He first started the business out of the garage of his house and later on built another house on Edmond Street to store his materials and work trucks. In the early 1990's, he then expanded the business to include a store front on Main Street. Needing a larger building and somewhere to store work trucks all in the same location, he purchased the Lone Star Beer Distributor's building on 2nd Street. In 2010, at the age of 80, Leland and Gladiola retired and sold the business to Kelly and Penny, their son and daughter-in-law, who continue to own and operate Kruse Electric. Two dedicated brothers, Douglas and Michael Urbanek, began working for Leland in the late 60's/early 70's and remain working for Kruse Electric. When Leland's parents moved to the New Bern area, they joined Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. On October 31, 1954, he married the love of his life Gladiola Louise Martin at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor. Leland transferred and continued to be a member of Saint Paul's, where he served on many committees including the Vestry, Lutheran Brotherhood, and was official record keeper for the Adult Bible class. He was also a member of the Taylor Volunteer Fire Department for several years, along with the American Legion and Sons of Hermann. He loved and enjoyed visiting with family and friends while drinking a beer or two.  On the weekends and after hours, Leland would tend cattle at their farm where he also could be found plowing and working on other chores. For many years Leland and Gladiola, along with their children, maintained a large garden. They also enjoyed traveling, going dancing, and playing "42" dominos with their supper club. He enjoyed watching the Lawrence Welk Show and was dedicated to listening to the Michael Craig's Polka Music on Sunday afternoons. Leland was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and her husband, LaVerne (Erwin William) Steger; his brothers and their wives, Delwood Louis (Florence) Kruse, Weldon Leon (Martha) Kruse, Wilburn Melvin (Bernice) Kruse; and his brothers-in-law, John Simank and Curtis (Jeanette) Martin. He is survived by his wife of 63 years; his children, Sheila (Mel) Bullock, Kelly (Penny) Kruse, and Rhonda (Ray) Ochoa; his grandchildren, Amanda (Shelby) Elson, Colbey (Jennifer) Bullock, Sydnee (Levi) Best, Sean Bullock, Alysha Kruse, Jewel Kruse (fiancée Will Hale), Kenneth Kruse, Elizabeth Ochoa (fiancée Wyatt Payne), and Alec Ochoa; and his great-grandchildren, Caleb Elson, Alyssa Elson, and Landyn Bullock. He is also survived by his sister, Loretta Simank; and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Alec, Colbey, Kenneth, Levi, Sean, Shelby, Will, and Wyatt. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Providence Funeral Home. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Taylor, with burial to follow at Taylor City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Paul Lutheran Church Radio Fund, 401 West Seventh Street, Taylor, Texas, 76574. The family would like to thank Pastor Qualley and Pastor Miller for their visits and prayers, and the staff at Baylor Scott and White Clinic and Hospital in Taylor, the Texas Home Health, and Texas Home Health Hospice for their care and support.

Inscription

DADDY LELAND KENNETH KRUSE SEPT. 25, 1929 MAY 6, 2018 OCT. 31, 1954

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