Carol Joyce Kruse

Carol Joyce Kruse, 73, of Grand Island, NE died on Monday, January 17, 2022 at CHI Health St. Francis.



Funeral services will be at 1 PM on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Pastor Bill Pavuk officiating. Burial will follow in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be an hour prior to the start of the service.



Carol was born on December 5, 1948 at Hollywood, CA. to Carl and Francis Kruse. She moved with her family to Fremont, NE when she was five years old. She attended Fremont Public Schools and graduated from Fremont High School. She moved to Grand Island, NE in 1980.



Carol met Ernie Sterkel in 1981. They had a son in 1982, and a daughter in 1986. Carol and Ernie were together for 11 years before he passed away in 1994.



Carol loved music, animals and the outdoors. She was a loving mother and grandmother.



She is survived by her son, Justin Kruse of Lincoln, NE; daughter Julie Sterkel of Boone, IA and 10 grandchildren.



She was preceded in death by her mother, Frances Kruse in 1997.