Jim Kruse, LCS ’65, went to his heavenly home on February 18, 2021.
He graduated from Versailles High School, Versailles, MO in 1947, from Manhattan Bible College in Manhattan, KS with a B.A. in 1958, and from Lincoln Christian Seminary with a M.A. in 1965.
Jim was a veteran of the U.S. Army, Company C, 86th Regiment/Division in Ft. Riley, KS during the Korean War in food service as first cook and mess sergeant being honorably discharged as Sergeant.
Jim preached his first sermon at Hopewell Union Church on Thanksgiving weekend in 1954. He received his ministerial license in 1955 and was ordained in Christian Church ministry in 1957. Jim preached steadily from February 1956 to July 2015, for a total of 60 years.
Jim served on the board of Quality Industries, a sheltered workshop for people with special needs in Versailles, New Hope Christian Community, Lake Ozark Christian Evangelizing Fellowship, C.E.A., N.C.E.F., W.E.A., various church camps, serving as camp manager at Prairie States Christian Service Camp in Watseka, IL from 1964 to 1971.
He enjoyed playing cards, laughing at a good joke, and ministering to the broken hearted.