Vera May Kruse

Vera May Kruse passed away peacefully at home in Florence, Arizona on June 29, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Vera was born on April 28, 1927 to Edward (Ed) and Blanche (Rush) Cahill at home in North Dakota, bordering McIntosh, South Dakota. She was one of 10 children
and also called Nebraska home, especially the Woodlake area where she went to school and participated in various shenanigans with her siblings. Yes, there are family stories!
Vera was no stranger to hard work having learned early all things farming and ranch-
ing at the hands of her God-loving, good midwestern stock mama and papa. The family
lived by Joshua 24:15, As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Vera May could
bale and stack hay, ride a horse, and drive a truck as well as any man. Her brother, Eddie
Paul, has a memory like Ft. Knox and even tells about a 32 ft. semi that Vera drove. Vera
moved west in 1953 with the love of her life, Henry "Hank" Kruse. They married in 1948
in Walla Walla, Washington and had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
in February. They met because Vera’s brother, Dale, who was married to Hank’s sister,
Thelma, took his new bride back to the farm to meet his family. While visiting, Thelma
gave Vera a picture of Hank who had served in the U.S. Navy in WWII. Vera took one
look at the handsome photo of Hank in uniform and the rest as they say, is history. Hank
and Vera lived most of their lives in the Coolidge and Florence areas of Arizona, welcom-
ing their children, Steven Jay "Steve" in 1959 and Robin Joy in 1964. Cotton became a
big part of their life, Hank being a third generation farmer and Vera working at South-
side Cotton Gin as a bookkeeper/office manager in Coolidge. You needed something
done well and efficiently you came to Vera who excelled in numbers, supervising, orga-
nizing and list making and loved every minute of it. Her children teased that she missed
her calling as a drill sergeant or president of her own Fortune 500 company. Vera also
worked at NAPA Auto Parts in Coolidge and Florence as a bookkeeper until her retire-
ment. Vera made many treasured friends through her work and also through her kids.
Young people seemed to gravitate towards her, as well as babies and animals as cliché
as it sounds, it’s true. People loved to be around her because of her spunk, kindness with
an encouraging word and awesome sense of humor. She loved to laugh and joke. Vera
also had a special bond with her grand-girls, Starla and Melissa and took part in rais-
ing them as her own. That translated later in doting on her great-grandchildren, Xavier,
Bella, Jameson, Blaze, Brian and Brandy. Vera had a heart of gold, an Irish temper and
a master’s degree in shopping...she made hunting for the perfect sweater an art form.
She’d rather clean than cook but Steve and Robin remember her warming their clothes
on the oven door while homemade cinnamon rolls were baking on winter days before
school. She also made a killer Texas sheet cake and yummy meatloaf and potato salad
and rolled out her own homemade noodles on the kitchen table. Other hobbies included
sewing, crafts, gardening and reading, especially the Bible, the Lord’s Prayer and the
book of Romans were among her favorites. Vera loved Jesus, her family and friends,
eating a good meal, spending time in Prescott and Show Low, Arizona, giving gifts and
picking out a personalized greeting card meant especially for the receiver and spending
time helping others in need, physically and emotionally. She was the kind of person who
thought of her sister-in-law, Patricia, as her real sister and would correct people saying,
"no, that’s my sister". It is with deep love and gratitude that Vera’s family reflects upon
her as a one-of-a-kind spirit who lived her life to the fullest right up until the very end,
despite battling a painful condition, trigeminal neuralgia.
Vera’s body and mind were tired and ready to go home to be with her Lord and Sav-
ior, Jesus Christ, having the hope of eternal life. Faith prevailed for Vera, may she be in
peace now and forevermore.
Vera is survived by her loving husband, Henry "Hank"; her daughter, Robin; grand-
daughters, Starla and Melissa; several great-grandchildren including Xavier, Isabella,
Jameson and Blaze; sisters, Naomi Cahill Carlton, Patricia Cahill, Pauline Armstrong
and Elizabeth Miller; brother, Eddie Paul "Hank" Cahill and more nephews, nieces,
cousins and friends than a gal can count. Was it mentioned Vera was one of 10 children?
Vera is also preceded in death by her son, Steve Kruse; parents, Ed and Blanche Cahill;
brothers, Merle, Marion, Dale, James, William Wier aka "Stubby", Otis Mills, John
Carlton, Ted Lenker and Emeil Kruse; sisters, Edna Mills Goodbarn, Ruth Lenker, Leila
Cahill, Thelma Kruse Cahill and Martha Weeda.
A memorial service and remembrance will be held at the Cole and Maud Mortuary in
Coolidge on Saturday, July 28 at 11 a.m., 541 W. Coolidge Ave., Coolidge, AZ 85128.
Any who wish to join, a small graveside service will be at Florence Cemetery off of Hwy.
79, Salazar St. Also a luncheon will be held after services, location pending, in Florence, Arizona.