James M. Kruse

James Monroe Kruse December 8, 1938 - April 19, 2012 James Jim M. Kruse of McGregor passed away Thursday, April 19, 2012. Services will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, April 23, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Leslie King officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, April 22, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Jim was born December 8, 1938, in Cranfills Gap, Texas, to Monroe and Dora Wiede Kruse. His dad was superintendent of schools there at the time, and when Jim was eight years old, his dad accepted the same position with the West School District. As his dad began the new job, Jim began many lucky years of growing up in a small, friendly town. Over the years he took part in school sports and, during the school year, worked part time mowing yards and working at the local grocery store and drug store. In the summers, he worked at West Feed Mill and on construction jobs. Jim was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Texas in 1957, Darrell Royal's first year as coach. It was a wonderful experience and Jim "bled orange." He graduated in 1962 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and in 1968, earned a Masters in Engineering Administration from SMU. His professional career began in 1962 with Humble Oil in Tyler and continued with them later in Dallas. Between those two towns, he served as a Lieutenant at the U.S. Army and Aviation and Material command in St. Louis for two years. He left Humble to begin seven years with Texas Instruments in Dallas, working as a facility maintenance engineer. In 1973, he joined Lochridge-Priest in Waco as Assistant Vice-President. Later he became a minority owner, then President and majority owner in 1997. He sold his interest in 2007 and retired, spending much of his time at his small farm, watching his fruit trees grow and tending a small herd of cattle. Jim was a Professional Engineer and served as President of the Central Texas Chapter of Professional Engineers and President of the Associate Member Advisory Board for Central Texas AGC. In 1961 he married his high school sweetheart, Peggy Smith. They had known each other since the second grade, and they had 40 wonderful years together before her death in 2001. In 2008 Jim married Linda Fletcher Deal. Their children had gone to school together, and everyone enjoyed the activities with both families. First Presbyterian Church was Jim's church home for 28 years. He served there as Elder and as a member of the Church Session. Jim Kruse was a gentle, quiet and kind man. That is the way he will be remembered by his wife, Linda Deal Kruse; daughter, Julie and husband, Chad Schrotel, and their sons, Chase, Connor and Carson; his son, Jim Kruse, Jr., and wife, Carrie, and their children, Sarah, Jake and Emma; sisters, Janis and husband, Royce Berger, and Diane and husband, Wayne Price. He will also be fondly remembered by Linda's children: daughter, Melody and husband, Lance High, and their children, Rachel and Wesley Thompson, and son, Wesley, and Heidi and Thomas Kempton and their sons, Bryson and Haiden; son, Cal Deal and wife, Kim, and their children, Calvin and wife, Amy, and son, Jackson, and daughter, Katie and husband, Jon Avery. Pallbearers will be Bob Peacock, Elmon Clater, Steve Reesing, David Golden, and grandsons Chase and Connor Schrotel. Memorials may be made to the Mr. and Mrs. Monroe F. Kruse Scholarship Fund, MCC Foundation, 1400 College Drive, Waco TX 76708. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey