Ima Jean (Nitsch) Kruse, 90, of Grand Island, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul, Nebraska.

Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island is entrusted with the arrangements.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at the church, with Pastor Steven Peeler officiating the service.

Interment will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Ima Jean was born January 9, 1935, to Clarence and Freida (Becker) Nitsch on her parents' farm in Boelus, Nebraska. She was the second of three children. She was raised in rural Boelus and enrolled in Howard County District 25 school. She then attended Boelus Public School, graduating in 1952.

As a young lady, she moved to Grand Island and worked for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.

Ima Jean was united in marriage to John F. Kruse on February 19th, 1961, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island, Nebraska. To this union, two children were born.

She farmed alongside her husband, John, in rural Hall County. She enjoyed playing cards, baking, dancing, and traveling. She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, the Platt-Duetsche, the Eagles, Liederkrantz, and the Busy Dozen Extension Club. Her greatest enjoyment in life was spending time with her family. She truly enjoyed being a grandmother and great-grandmother.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, Colleen J. Lewis of Spencer, Iowa; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel J. & Donna Kruse of Grand Island; three grandchildren; Nick and Bri Lewis of Muscatine, Iowa; Kaitlin and Neill Hahn and one great-grandson, Tristan of Cimarron, Kansas, and Cole Kruse of Grand Island; one sister, LaVera Mae Franssen of Spearfish, South Dakota; sisters-in-law, Joyce Nitsch of Boelus and Phyllis Long of Grand Island.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; brother, Eugene Nitsch; niece, Tonya Nitsch; brother-in-law, Harold Franssen; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Lucille and Gordon Sinner, Erma and Leo Wissing, Vera Kelly, and Bob Long.

Condolences to the family and sharing of memories may be signed at www.livson.com.