Lillian Kruse

Lillian Kruse, 76, of Ogden, Iowa, passed away Monday, December 3, 2012, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames with her daughter, Kara by her side.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden. Pastor Wade Brandt will officiate. Burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Ogden. Visitation will be Thursday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Zion Lutheran Church. Carson – Stapp Funeral Home of Ogden is in charge of the arrangements.

Lillian Lee Fairchild was born on May 6, 1936, in Boone, Iowa, the daughter of Forrest Lee and Mabel Christine (Nelson) Fairchild. Lillian graduated with the Boone High School Class of 1954, and went on to receive her teaching endorsement from Boone Jr. College. She later obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Drake University.

On October 25, 1958, Lillian was united in marriage to John Donald Kruse at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden.

Lillian taught grade school with an emphasis on 1st grade and Title I Reading. She began her teaching career at the Dayton Elementary School where she taught for one year, then taught for the next two years at East Greene, and finally taught at Howe Elementary School in Ogden for 37 years until retiring. Lillian had a great love and passion for teaching young people, and following retirement she continued to enjoy substitute teaching in the Ogden school system.

Lillian was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden. She also volunteered her time as a story reader at both Howe Elementary School and the Ogden Manor. Lillian belonged to the Watt Pottery Association, Lincoln Highway Quester's, Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teacher's Sorority, and the Iowa Retired Teacher's Organization. She participated in Ogden's Relay for Life, and had organized and participated in Ogden Rural Main Street's Christmas Tour of Homes and Garden Tours. She loved the Fine Arts and was on the Ogden Community Theater Sponsorship Committee. Lillian was formerly active in the Ogden Jaycee Jill's, Ogden Community Business Women, T.T.T. Organization, and E.L.M. Street Pre-School Board. She enjoyed card club, gardening, shopping, antiquing, crafting, eating at LaCaretta, and just being with her friends, family and children. Most of all she loved being active in her grandchildren's lives.

She is survived by her daughter, Kara Kruse of Ogden, Iowa; two grandchildren, Sydney and Seth Bishop; foster son, Obadiah Lack of New York, New York; sister, Arlys Westrum of Stratford, Iowa; brother-in-law, Jim Kruse of Grand Junction, Colorado, and sisters-in-law, Patti (Terry) Beckman of Ogden, Iowa, and Cecille Kirk of Hemet, California; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John D. Kruse on December 5, 2011; and two sisters, Opal Tilley, and Arlene Bechtel.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.