Christina D. Kruse

Christina Dorothy Kruse, 100, of Grand Island died, November 19, 2012 at Wedgewood Care Center, Grand Island. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 24, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jack Gillam officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Worms, Nebraska. Visitation hours will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, November 23, 2012 at Apfel Funeral Home, Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family. Christina D. Kruse was born August 3, 1912 at Farwell, Nebraska the daughter of Chris & Martha (Lemburg) Knoepfel. She grew up and attended grade school in Kelso, Nebraska graduating from Farwell High with the class of 1930. She helped her mother at home for seven years. She was united in marriage to Herman J.C. Kruse, June 27, 1937 at Farwell, Nebraska on the family farm. The couple made their home on a farm, South East of Worms where they raised vegetables on their farm also known as Rainbow Gardens and donate them to many worthy organizations and also sold them too many local stores. In 1970 Herman preceded her in death in a tractor accident. Christina moved to Grand Island in 1973 where she did home health care for residents in Grand Island. In 1976 she was employed at Stolle Bakery until 1980 and continued to care for the elderly. Her love for gardening and landscaping enabled her to care for the grounds at Lebensraum Assisted Living for many years and in the spring she volunteered to her services to help plant in many city parks. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Worms and Ladies Aid and Trinity Lutheran Church. She helped tie many quilts for world relief programs. Survivors of the immediate family include four daughters and sons in law, Dorothy & Melvin Olston of Chapman, Cheryl & Ronald Ludwig of Grand Island, Eva & Gary Bixenmann of Grand Island, Rose Rose of Grand Island, one son and daughter in law, David & Betty Kruse of Colby, Kansas, 10 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren, three brothers and sisters in law: John Knoepfel of Farmington, Michigan, and Harlan & Evelyn Knoepfel of Grand Island, Alvernon & Darlene Knoepfel of Grand Island, one sister, Angeline Dibbern of Cairo, NE . She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Herman Kruse, three brothers, Clarence, Arnold & Donald Knoepfel, Sister and brother in law, Elvena & Loris Campbell, son in law, Harry Rose Jr., sisters in law, Mary Knoepfel, Laurell Knoepfel and brother in law, Pete Dibbern.