Memorial
Dean LeRoy Kruse, 89, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday January 13, 2017 at Meadow View Memory Care Village where he was lovingly taken care of for 5 years. Services will be held February 4 at 11 a.m at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories in Cedar Rapids. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service on February 4: at 10 a.m.
Survivors include his children: Dennis (Sharon) Kruse of Leavenworth, Washington; Tom (Monica) Hillmer of Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Gary Hillmer (Jamie Blanchard) of Eldora, Iowa; and Cynthia Claiborne of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren: Brooke Kruse of Seattle, Washington; Stephanie Kruse of Seattle, Washington; Kristin Hillmer (Joel Cameron) of Sacramento, California; Brianne Hillmer of Longmont, Colorado; Shane Fox of Sacramento, California; Ami (Dan) Kenney of Kansas City, Missouri; Jonathan Claiborne of Cedar Rapids; Addie Hillmer of Vinton; Libbie Hillmer of Iowa City; Holden Hillmer serving in the US Army; and Caleb Blanchard of Ames, as well as a great grandson, Ryan Kenney.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary Kathleen Kruse, and his siblings: Dick, Yvonne, Donna and Jim.
Dean was born October 1, 1927 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Orval and Pearl (Dunlap) Kruse. He married Mary Kathleen Scherrebeck on October 4, 1963 in Schueville, Iowa. Dean was a purchasing agent for Link-Belt/FMC Corporation and Terex Corporation, both in Cedar Rapids. He was a member of Salem United Methodist Church.
Dean was an avid gardener and sang with the Harmony Hawks barbershop chorus and several barbershop quartets starting in 1952. He sang with the chorus in 1959 when they placed 3rd in the international competition and with the Vigortones quartet, district champions four years running from 1997-2000. The quartet was inducted into the hall of fame in 1996 when he and his brother Dick were both in the quartet. Dean served in the United States Navy during World War II.
Memorials may be directed to the family.