Theodore Edward Kruse

Theodore Edward Kruse was born Aug. 5th, 1919 and passed away peacefully at Three Rivers Medical Center on Feb.1st, 2017 in Grants Pass, OR where he had resided since 1985. He moved to the area from Oceanside, CA. His wife and daughter Lu Anne were at his side.

He was born in Astoria, Long Island, New York to George and Anna Kruse. He was the second youngest of 8 children; Marge, George, Robert, Harold, Charles, Walter, Theodore and Edward; all who preceded him in death. He and 4 brothers all served in World War II at the same time.

He is married to Hazel Benson, from Pocatello, ID who he met in Louisiana when Ted was stationed there in the Army. They were married on Sept. 26, 1942 and have been loving companions for 74 years.

He is the father of 5 children; Dr. Theodore C. Kruse of Grants Pass, OR; Robert George Kruse of Ridgecrest, CA; LuAnne Brannies of Springfield, OR; Janeen Johansen of Mesquite, NV; and Kathy Smith of Vista, CA. He is known as “grandpa” to 18 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.

For most of his life, he was employed by the government as a machinist at the Naval Weapons Center in China Lake, CA.

Ted Kruse was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Riverside Ward on Williams Highway. He was a Boy Scout Leader and served in Bishoprics and High Priest Groups in addition to serving in 3 LDS Temples; Los Angeles, CA, Portland, OR and Medford, OR.

Ted loved to golf and could boast of 5 holes in one. In his retirement years, he enjoyed being a golf ranger at La Costa and Grants Pass Country Club.

He was a gentle, loving man and will be missed by his loved ones and friends.

A funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m., Monday, February 6, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Stake Center in Grants Pass.

A committal service will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Eagle Point National Cemetery.