Pastor Alfred Louis Kruse, age 70, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, September 22, 2013, at the University of Iowa Hospitals.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 26, 2013, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington, Iowa. Visitation will begin 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the Immanuel Lutheran Church or the Iowa Lions Foundation. Online condolences may be sent for Al's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Pastor Alfred Louis Kruse was born January 21, 1943 in Grant Township, Plymouth County, Iowa on the family farm to Louis and Maria (Meyer) Kruse. He was baptized on February 15, 1943 with Henry Meyer, Martha Meyer, and John Kruse serving as sponsors. He was confirmed on April 15, 1957. Pastor Kruse was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in rural Akron, Iowa. He graduated from Le Mars High School in Le Mars, Iowa in 1961. He graduated from Wartburg College in 1965, and from Wartburg Seminary in 1969. Pastor Kruse was ordained on June 15, 1969. He was united in marriage to Jane B. Jones on October 18, 1969 at Christ United Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Pastor Kruse has been a resident of Washington since 2009. He served as pastor in five different communities from 1969 until his retirement on February 1, 2009. He had previously served at Bluffs Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, Nebraska from 1969 until 1973; St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado, Iowa from 1973 until 1979; St. John Lutheran Church in Cushing, Iowa from 1979 until 1986; Immanuel Lutheran Church in Carthage, Illinois from 1986 until 1994; St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Readlyn, Iowa from 1994 until 2007; and Readlyn Area Lutheran Parish in Readlyn, Iowa from 2007 until his retirement.

Pastor Kruse was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington, and a member of the Washington Lions Club. He enjoyed serving his community. He gave of himself though Boy Scouts. As being a member of the Lions Club he transported eye tissue. Recently Pastor Kruse was awarded the Warren Coleman Award for the transporting of the eye tissue for the Iowa Lions Eye Bank. This past year he held the office of President of the Washington Lions. There is the saying, "You can take the boy off the farm, but you can't take the farm out of the boy". Pastor Kruse took great joy in his involvement with his children in 4-H and their small herd of cattle. He took great pride in being able to baptize his children and six grandchildren, confirming his children and being a part of his grandson's confirmation, plus performing family weddings. He became the "Bread Lady's" side kick at the Farmer's Market in Washington. Pastor Kruse was quite the storyteller and enjoyed bragging about his grandchildren, Jake with his bowling, Hannah with her music, Megan with her dancing, Lacey with her swimming, and Sophia with her giggle.

He is survived by his wife, Jane, of Washington, Iowa; daughter Pamela Adams and husband John of Waterloo, Iowa; daughter Margaret Cook and husband Ryan of Keokuk, Iowa; son Robert "Bob" Kruse and significant other, Tracy Weidenbacher of Cascade, Iowa; five grandchildren: Jake and Megan Cook of Keokuk, Iowa and Hannah, Lacey, and Sophia Kruse of Cascade, Iowa; sister Elaine McFarlane of Santa Rosa, California; brother Ralph Kruse and wife Charlene of Le Mars, Iowa; and sister-in-law Kathleen Kruse of Le Mars, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, William Adams; and brother Wendell Kruse and his first wife Jolene; and brother-in-law, Jerry McFarlane.