William Kruse Obituary

William Albert "Bill" Kruse
Passed from this world at his home January 3rd, at the age of 86 following a 2 year illness during which he was cared for by his loving wife. He was a fearless warrior with an indomitable will, tending his office and clients with a profound work ethic until shortly before his death. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Peter Eisenberg and Dr. Lloyd Miyawaki of California Cancer Care for their compassion and devotion of superb care. Bill was the firstborn of William Henry Kruse and Amanda Schweppe Kruse in Elmhurst, Illinois 1920, where he was raised and educated, graduating with a BSC from Elmhurst College in 1942. He promptly joined the navy as a commissioned officer, attaining the rank of Commander, and at his request was appointed Captain of a sub chaser (PC 571) which escorted convoys throughout the Caribbean for the duration of WWII. Bill remained at the helm for the final journey up the Columbia River to Astoria, WA, where his ship was decommissioned. He possessed a deep love of the sea throughout his life and attended numerous PC sailors' annual reunions at various USA ports where dear friendships were established. After the war, drawing on the resources of the GI Bill, he obtained an MBA from CU Boulder and also earned a CPA. He then became an instructor, teaching at the CU Boulder Business School to further fund his education. In 1953 as president of his senior class (which Bill considered a great honor) he graduated at CU Boulder with a law degree and developed close, lifelong friendships with several of his classmates. Following graduation he became a professor and taught Business Law and Accounting at his Alma Mater until 1963, followed by ventures as Bank Trustee and Private Practice. In 1967 upon recommendation, he was hired by Amfac Corporation of Honolulu, HI. At that time Amfac was a very successful corp. with many divergent holdings throughout the islands and mainland. As his forte was tax savings, Bill thrived as vice-president of the Tax Dept. successfully countering proposals of tax reps. - a role he continued with the IRS until his death. In 1986, Bill retired from Amfac, settling in Tiburon, CA and immediately establishing a private practice in the Albert Bldg., San Rafael, offering trusts and estate planning. His concept of retirement was "a change in environment". His door was open to all, from multi-million dollar estates to pro bono generosity. Bill also made home and hospital calls, including appointments to busy business proprietors locally and in numerous other states. His clients were loyal, loving and imbued with respect. Although he loved the retirement home he had built in the rolling hills outside Sebastopol where he moved in 1992, he continued to commute to his office daily, using the travel time to ponder varied and complex tax problems presented to him, including those of referred clients with long paper trails. In 2003, Bill moved his office (with a spacious parking area to accommodate his clients) north to the Ignacio area of Novato, sharing a suite with close insurance colleagues until his death. Bill was a passionate lifelong baseball fan, specifically his beloved Chicago Cubs. Being of German heritage, he was a staunch Lutheran who attended worship each Sunday "to recharge his batteries". He also supported numerous charities and received recognition for his generosity. He was a member of the American Association of Attorneys & CPAs, a member of the United States Navy Memorial, life member of the Military Officers' Association of America, Reserve Officers Association, the Patrol Craft Sailors Assoc., and the Marin YMCA, where he enjoyed playing racquetball into his 80's and where he also gave monthly tax and investment seminars for many years. Bill was predeceased by his first wife Lois Fluegge of Boulder, mother of his four children whom he married in 1943, and his second wife Roseann Dunn of Novato. His younger brother Richard died in 2002. He is survived by his spouse of 22 years Denise Davidson; his beloved sister Gladys LeGros (Jim) of Arizona; his beloved children Don (Jill & family Ron, Jacob, Joelle) of Arizona; Wayne (Leidene) of Honolulu; Jim (Arlys) of Seattle; Pam Plaugher (Brian) of Guerneville; his beloved grandchildren Dana, Marla (Shane), Joe, Will & Libby. Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2007, at Grace Lutheran Church at 1:30 p.m. in Boulder, CO, with the Rev. Norbert Hattendorf officiating. Refreshments will be served at the church following the service. Inurnment will take place Monday, January 29, 2007, at the Mountain View Memorial Park at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the William Henry Kruse Scholarship Fund of the Grace Lutheran Foundation (a worthy cause established by Bill in 1972 for his father). The family lovingly surrenders their patriarch to God's keeping. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Parent-Sorensen Mortuary, Sebastopol, CA, and M.P. Murphy & Associates Funeral Directors, Boulder, CO.