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Roll Call Tribute
Walter Kruse '44 January 7, 2014 12:37 PM
(Published in) Waco Tribune (on) January 3rd, 2014
Kruse, Walter
Walter E. Kruse
Walter E. Kruse went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 27, 2013, at the age of 93. He spent his life as a cattleman, an educator, college professor, and a university researcher, and he was a devoted husband and father. Following a graveside service for the family, a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 3, at First United Methodist Church, McGregor, Texas, with the Rev. Joe Chamness officiating.
Walter Elmer Kruse was born on September 14, 1920, in Bosque County, the youngest of Walter J. Kruse and Edda (Schulze) Kruse's five children. He grew up on a farm and attended Cayote Grade School and graduated from high school in Clifton, Texas.
After high school, he enrolled in what is now Tarleton State University and later transferred to Texas A&M. He was a member of the class of 1944 when the entire Senior and Junior classes were called to active Army duty at the same time. During his military service, he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Fort Lee, Va., Fort Jackson, S.C., Camp Gruber, Okla., and took part in the Tennessee Maneuvers in 1943. In 1944, he was sent to Europe in the Quartermaster Corps and served in England, Belgium, and Germany. After 13 years of active and reserve duty, he was discharged as a Captain.
He finished his bachelor of science degree after the war at Texas A&M in animal science. After teaching in a Veterans-on-the-Farm Program and working as a livestock loan officer and livestock magazine field man, he enrolled in Kansas State University, where he earned a master's degree in animal science in 1953. Mr. Kruse worked his way through school as a graduate student instructor in animal science. While in Kansas, he worked with ranchers in the Flint Hill area in Chase, Lyon, Greenwood, and Marion Counties.
Following graduation from Kansas State, he returned to Texas to work as an animal nutritionist for a feed mill in San Antonio, Texas, and then joined the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. He served first as county agricultural agent in Kaufman, Texas, and later in Weatherford, Texas. He then moved to Waxahachie, Texas, where he was one of the first District Beef Cattle Specialists in the state.
In 1958, Walter transferred to the Texas A&M's Agricultural Experiment Station at McGregor, Texas, where he was in charge of beef cattle research. The 1000-cow research herd was at that time one of the largest in the nation with six pure breeds and 25 cross combinations of cattle. He was the author and co-author of many scientific and popular articles on beef cattle genetics and management. He gave many interviews to the livestock press and spoke at meetings and conferences throughout the state on cattle management and research.
Walter later started a beef cattle course at Texas State Technical Institute and the first agricultural courses at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. He was the regional representative for the National Livestock and Meat Board and was a region manager for Pioneer Cattle Company, which operated in 30 states, Canada, and Mexico with 12,000 seed stock cows of eight breeds. His region included six states and Mexico. He was responsible for management, sales, testing and management of cattle on eight ranches in four states.
Walter held leadership roles in many agricultural and beef organizations. He enjoyed giving a weekly radio report for the Texas Farm Bureau on beef cattle issues, which was broadcast on radio stations throughout Texas. He was President and Secretary of the McLennan County Farm Bureau and was a member of the McLennan or Bosque County Farm Bureaus for over 40 years. He was an active member in the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Ranchers Association for over 30 years, as well as the National Cattleman's Beef Association and the American Society of Animal Science . He was on the board of directors of several cattle breed associations and a superintendent at the Heart of Texas Fair in Waco, Texas, for 35 years. He also served as a beef cattle judge at livestock shows throughout Texas, including Houston, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Tyler, Austin, and San Antonio.
As a devout Christian, Walter was very active in the United Methodist Church. He held district offices and almost every office in the local Methodist churches, where his family was a member. He taught Sunday School for over 60 years. In particular, at the First United Methodist Church in McGregor, he taught the adult Homebuilders Sunday School class for over 40 years; served as Chair of the Church Board, and was District Lay Leader in the Central Texas District. He gave laity sermons at over 50 churches in Texas and Kansas.
He met his wife, Lt. Addie ("Connie") Conyers of Piedmont, Kan., in an Army hospital in Germany during World War II. She was an Army nurse in an evacuation hospital, where Walter was visiting one of his men in his platoon who had been wounded. Walter and Connie were married after the war on December 1, 1945. They celebrated 62 wonderful years of marriage. Walter and Connie took great pride in raising four sons, and they were actively involved as adult leaders in 4-H Club and Methodist Youth Fellowship. Connie died in 2008.
Walter is survived by his four sons and daughter-in-laws: John and his wife, Teresa of Plano, Texas, Rodney and his wife, Cindy of Temple, Texas, Layne and his wife, Gayle of Houston, Texas, and Larry and his wife, Bea of Harker Heights, Texas, as well as 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are grandsons, David Kruse, Jacob Kruse, Michael Kruse, Graham Kruse, Walter Kruse, John Kruse, and Robert Kruse and grandson-in-law, Nick Shriver.
The family gives special thanks for the care received at Stoney Brook Generations, Belton, Texas; and Scott & White Hospice, Temple, Texas.
The family suggests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 500 South Madison Street, McGregor, Texas 76657, or the Salvation Army, 1225 I-35 South, Waco, Texas 76706.
Condolences may be offered at colefunerealhomes.com
September 14, 1920 - December 27, 2013
Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com
Cole Funeral Home Inc
Phone: 254-853-2311
Address: 304 8th St, Moody, TX 76557
Kruse, Walter
Walter E. Kruse
Walter E. Kruse went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 27, 2013, at the age of 93. He spent his life as a cattleman, an educator, college professor, and a university researcher, and he was a devoted husband and father. Following a graveside service for the family, a memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 3, at First United Methodist Church, McGregor, Texas, with the Rev. Joe Chamness officiating.
Walter Elmer Kruse was born on September 14, 1920, in Bosque County, the youngest of Walter J. Kruse and Edda (Schulze) Kruse's five children. He grew up on a farm and attended Cayote Grade School and graduated from high school in Clifton, Texas.
After high school, he enrolled in what is now Tarleton State University and later transferred to Texas A&M. He was a member of the class of 1944 when the entire Senior and Junior classes were called to active Army duty at the same time. During his military service, he was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Fort Lee, Va., Fort Jackson, S.C., Camp Gruber, Okla., and took part in the Tennessee Maneuvers in 1943. In 1944, he was sent to Europe in the Quartermaster Corps and served in England, Belgium, and Germany. After 13 years of active and reserve duty, he was discharged as a Captain.
He finished his bachelor of science degree after the war at Texas A&M in animal science. After teaching in a Veterans-on-the-Farm Program and working as a livestock loan officer and livestock magazine field man, he enrolled in Kansas State University, where he earned a master's degree in animal science in 1953. Mr. Kruse worked his way through school as a graduate student instructor in animal science. While in Kansas, he worked with ranchers in the Flint Hill area in Chase, Lyon, Greenwood, and Marion Counties.
Following graduation from Kansas State, he returned to Texas to work as an animal nutritionist for a feed mill in San Antonio, Texas, and then joined the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. He served first as county agricultural agent in Kaufman, Texas, and later in Weatherford, Texas. He then moved to Waxahachie, Texas, where he was one of the first District Beef Cattle Specialists in the state.
In 1958, Walter transferred to the Texas A&M's Agricultural Experiment Station at McGregor, Texas, where he was in charge of beef cattle research. The 1000-cow research herd was at that time one of the largest in the nation with six pure breeds and 25 cross combinations of cattle. He was the author and co-author of many scientific and popular articles on beef cattle genetics and management. He gave many interviews to the livestock press and spoke at meetings and conferences throughout the state on cattle management and research.
Walter later started a beef cattle course at Texas State Technical Institute and the first agricultural courses at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas. He was the regional representative for the National Livestock and Meat Board and was a region manager for Pioneer Cattle Company, which operated in 30 states, Canada, and Mexico with 12,000 seed stock cows of eight breeds. His region included six states and Mexico. He was responsible for management, sales, testing and management of cattle on eight ranches in four states.
Walter held leadership roles in many agricultural and beef organizations. He enjoyed giving a weekly radio report for the Texas Farm Bureau on beef cattle issues, which was broadcast on radio stations throughout Texas. He was President and Secretary of the McLennan County Farm Bureau and was a member of the McLennan or Bosque County Farm Bureaus for over 40 years. He was an active member in the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Ranchers Association for over 30 years, as well as the National Cattleman's Beef Association and the American Society of Animal Science . He was on the board of directors of several cattle breed associations and a superintendent at the Heart of Texas Fair in Waco, Texas, for 35 years. He also served as a beef cattle judge at livestock shows throughout Texas, including Houston, Ft. Worth, Dallas, Tyler, Austin, and San Antonio.
As a devout Christian, Walter was very active in the United Methodist Church. He held district offices and almost every office in the local Methodist churches, where his family was a member. He taught Sunday School for over 60 years. In particular, at the First United Methodist Church in McGregor, he taught the adult Homebuilders Sunday School class for over 40 years; served as Chair of the Church Board, and was District Lay Leader in the Central Texas District. He gave laity sermons at over 50 churches in Texas and Kansas.
He met his wife, Lt. Addie ("Connie") Conyers of Piedmont, Kan., in an Army hospital in Germany during World War II. She was an Army nurse in an evacuation hospital, where Walter was visiting one of his men in his platoon who had been wounded. Walter and Connie were married after the war on December 1, 1945. They celebrated 62 wonderful years of marriage. Walter and Connie took great pride in raising four sons, and they were actively involved as adult leaders in 4-H Club and Methodist Youth Fellowship. Connie died in 2008.
Walter is survived by his four sons and daughter-in-laws: John and his wife, Teresa of Plano, Texas, Rodney and his wife, Cindy of Temple, Texas, Layne and his wife, Gayle of Houston, Texas, and Larry and his wife, Bea of Harker Heights, Texas, as well as 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers are grandsons, David Kruse, Jacob Kruse, Michael Kruse, Graham Kruse, Walter Kruse, John Kruse, and Robert Kruse and grandson-in-law, Nick Shriver.
The family gives special thanks for the care received at Stoney Brook Generations, Belton, Texas; and Scott & White Hospice, Temple, Texas.
The family suggests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 500 South Madison Street, McGregor, Texas 76657, or the Salvation Army, 1225 I-35 South, Waco, Texas 76706.
Condolences may be offered at colefunerealhomes.com
September 14, 1920 - December 27, 2013
Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com
Cole Funeral Home Inc
Phone: 254-853-2311
Address: 304 8th St, Moody, TX 76557
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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