Rudolph L. Kruse Sr., 83, of Grand Island died Monday, July 27, 2015 at the Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Funeral service will be 10:30am Friday, July 31, 2015 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church with Pastor Edgar Schambach officiating. Visitation with the family present will be 4-7 pm Thursday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. Online condolences may be directed to www.livson.com. Memorials are suggested to the family to set up a fund for his great granddaughter Joslyn Grotrian who is diagnosed with Rett's Syndrome..
Rudolph was born May 24, 1932 to Rudolph and Rose (Busig) Kruse. He received his education at Wood River High School, class of 1950. After high school he worked on a farm. He joined the United States Army during the Korean War, joining on September 10, 1952 and Honorably Discharged on September 10, 1954. On December 10, 1955, he married Dolores Frauen at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island; to this union 5 children were born.
In 1958 he started farming on his own East of Grand Island where he worked until his retirement in 2012.
Rudolph was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran church and a past member of the Saddle Club and the Platt Duetsche and also a past 4-H Leader
He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed gardening and hunting. He was very proud that he raised and canned his own produce and raised his own livestock.
Survivors include 3 sons and 2 daughters-in-law, Rudolph Jr. and Sharon Kruse of Grand Island, Steven and Marlene Kruse of Tecumseh, NE and Russell Kruse of Grand Island; 2 daughters and Sons-in-law, Shari and Ted Schrock of Elm Creek, NE and Angela and Patrick Hesselgesser of Argyle, TX; 13 grandchildren and their spouses,  Krystle (Wayne) Ferdinand, Kody Kruse, Kourtney Kruse, Monique (Jamie) Grotrian, Shantille Kruse, Stetson (Julie) Kruse, Blake (Roxanne) Kruse, Lorene Kruse, Gabrielle, Jacqueline, and Jacob Schrock, Mariah and Allison Hesselgesser; 7 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Rudolph was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores; his parents; and sister, Peggy Baker.

Funeral service will be 10:30am Friday, July 31, 2015 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church with Pastor Edgar Schambach officiating. Visitation with the family present will be 4-7 pm Thursday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.