James Elwood Kruse was born November 18, 1929 in Neosho, Missouri, one of six children to Bryan and Opal (Eller) Kruse. He entered into rest on October 11, 2019 in Neosho at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 23 days.
During his early years, James ran a milk route for Milnot, worked at Embrey’s Grain Elevator in Fairview and worked for the Frisco Railroad in Wichita. He also studied Metallurgy at Franklin Tech, Joplin, preparing for a career as a Machinist. James worked as a Machinist Lead Man and Supervisor at Rocketdyne from 1956 until its closure.
He then worked at RGS Engineering Company in Joplin, working for 30 years and retiring in 1993 as Plant Manager. He completed his basic training at Fort Chafee, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a founding member and Elder of the Rocketdyne Road Church of Christ.
James married Clista (Embrey) on Dec. 2, 1950 in Cassville and she survives. James and Clista enjoyed over 25 years of retirement together, sharing their time as Caregivers for St. John’s Hospice and one of the highlights of their retirement was the four years they worked with We Care Ministries of Monroe, LA. They both traveled to do missionary work in Ukraine.
In addition to his wife, James is survived by four children, Denny Kruse and wife, Carol, Ramona Munsell and husband, Don, William ‘Bill’ Kruse and wife, Jennie and Lenore Wolfe and husband, Rick. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Keri Thompson and husband, Chris, Emily Coombs and husband, Marc, Olivia Casady and husband, Cody, David Kruse and wife, Erin, James A. Kruse and wife, Jessie and Tyler Wolfe; eight great grandchildren, Skyler Coombs, Luke Casady, Christopher Thompson, II, Opal Coombs, Laynee Casady, Kruse Thompson, Reece Kruse and Ellie Kruse; one brother, Carl Lee Kruse and wife, Betty; two sisters in law, Ann Kruse and Wilma Garrison; brother in law, Steve Stevens and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, Will Kruse; a great granddaughter, Eden Kruse; two brothers, Curtice Kruse, who lost his life serving in WW II and Joe Kruse and two sisters, Imogene Duke and Mary Ann Hill.
Services will be Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019 at 11 am at the Rocketdyne Road Church of Christ, Don Munsell and Denny Kruse will officiate. Interment will follow in the Dice Cemetery, Fairview with grandchildren and great grandchildren serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at a time of visitation from 10 am until service time at the church.
Contributions in memory of James may be made to Rocketdyne Road Church of Christ, “Smiles” Orphan Outreach in Ukraine, c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66; Neosho, MO 64850.
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