Gene R. Kruse

COLESBURG, IOWA

Gene R. Kruse, 79, of Colesburg, passed away peacefully at his home on February 26, 2026, after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s Plus.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 3-6 p.m. at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Petersburg, with Rev. Anthony Kruse as celebrant and Rev. Phillip Kruse as concelebrant. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

The son of Emil and Hyacinth (Bruggemann) Kruse, Gene was born on February 24, 1947. He grew up on the family farm near Petersburg. Gene attended SS. Peter and Paul School in Petersburg; St. Boniface High School in New Vienna; and Loras College in Dubuque, graduating with degrees in history and education.

Gene married the love of his life, Elizabeth "Betty" Nachtman, on August 9, 1969, at St. Joseph Church in Earlville. The couple had four children.

Farming was an important part of the life that Gene and Betty built together. Early in their marriage, the couple bought a dairy farm north of Colesburg, where they raised their children and spent more than 50 years farming. Gene enjoyed caring for his animals and working in the fields, as well as helping tend the couple’s large garden.

In addition to being a farmer, Gene was also an educator. After he graduated from college, he spent four years teaching junior high social studies. He went back to college later in life to renew his teaching license and briefly returned to the classroom as a teacher once again.

Gene was a sports enthusiast his entire life. He played basketball in high school and intramural basketball in college. He later coached as well. He enjoyed watching sports on television and following along to games on AM radio. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Gene was a deeply religious man who loved God and his Catholic faith. Through the years, Gene was an active member in two parish communities. During his time at St. Patrick in Colesburg, Gene served as a lector, a eucharistic minister, and as a religious education teacher and a coordinator of the program. While at SS. Peter and Paul in Petersburg, Gene sang in the church choir.

After his faith in God, the most important thing in Gene's life was his family. He treasured time spent with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was loving and devoted to them and always a strong, steady presence in their lives.

Gene was known for his good work ethic. He had a quiet nature but also a wonderful sense of humor and an easy-going personality. He was kind and generous to everyone he knew. He was loved deeply and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Betty; children: Kimberly (James) Sueppel of Cashton, Wisc.; Lynn (Scott) Schilling of Colesburg; Jill (Brian) Kruse-Domeyer of Dyersville; and John (Talia) Kruse of Petersburg; grandchildren: Anna (Huston) Anderson; Matthew, Jonathan, Michael, Jacob, and Luke Sueppel; Nicole (Alex) Elgin; Maria (Matt) Rave; Michael (Gillian), Gabriella, and Daniel Schilling; Alexander and Elizabeth Domeyer; and Mary, Peter, Joseph, Katherine, Thomas, and Margaret Kruse; great-grandchildren: Lillian Schilling, Adam Elgin, and one more on the way; brothers: Rev. Phillip Kruse of Dyersville and Al (Wendy) Kruse of Greeley; in-laws: Joann Kruse, Angela Kruse, Frank Nachtman, Rita Nachtman, Julie Wessel, Charlotte Nachtman, and Leo Roling.

He is preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law: Cletus and Elizabeth Nachtman; siblings: Sr. Bertha Kruse, OSF; Martin Kruse; Patrick Kruse; and a sister who died in infancy; in-laws: Mary (Robert) Murray, John Nachtman, Dorothy Roling, and Robert Wessel.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of St. Croix Hospice, especially Keshia, Amanda, Jackie, and Emily, for their compassionate care, as well as the priests of the Spires of Faith Cluster for their spiritual support.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home (Dyersville, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Monticello, Holy Cross) is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.