Richard Kruse

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakefield, Minn. for Richard Lee Kruse, 46, of Chicago and formerly of Lakefield, Minn. and Okoboji. He passed away Friday, July 23, 2010, at Weiss Memorial Hospital Hospice Unit in Chicago.

The Rev. Bob Iverson is officiating.

Richard was born March 13, 1964, and was the son of Lloyd and Verda Kruse. He graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1982 and graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. with a Biology major in 1986. He continued his education at Arizona State University, where he achieved a master's degree in Environmental Sciences in 1997.

Richard spent two years in Madagascar, Africa, teaching the natives the English language under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. During his time there, because of his interest in biology and the environment, he volunteered for the World Wildlife Foundation.

After receiving his master's degree from A.S.U., he moved to Chicago where he worked for Com.Ed for a few years and then with Clarke Environmental Mosquito Management Company as a Geographic Information Systems manager until the time of his death.

Richard made many wonderful, long-lasting friendships wherever he went. Many of those friends flew from all over the United States during Richard's final days to say good-bye.

He is survived by a 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Teagan Jeanne Simon-Selander of Chicago, his father and stepmother, Lloyd and Joy Kruse of Okoboji, a brother Darrin Kruse of Spirit Lake, two nephews Maxwell and Zachery Kruse and one niece, Jaden Kruse of Spirit Lake; two stepsisters, Jodi (Tom) Tessman of Cottage Grove, Minn. and Marni Storey of Plymouth, Minn.; many aunts, uncles, cousins plus a host of many wonderful friends.

Preceding Richard in death was his loving mother, Verda Kruse, his grandparents Emil and Ella Kruse and John and Evelyn Janssen, plus other family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials go to Bethlehem Lutheran Church Mission Fund.