Gaylord Charles Kruse, Sr., 83, a lifetime resident of Amherst, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at New Life Hospice Residential Center in Lorain following a brief illness. He was born February 29, 1924 in LaCarne. He was raised in Amherst and graduated from Amherst High School in the class of 1942.
Gaylord served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on board the USS Sloat Destroyer DE245 as a Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class. During his service he received the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, the Europen Africian Middle Eastern Medal with one bronze star, the American Area Medal, and the Victory Medal.
 He was employed with GM Fisher Body Plant in Elyria for 33 years retiring in 1980 as a foreman. After retiring, he worked at Amherst Hospital in Central Supply for 3 years.
A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Amherst, he served as Eucharistic Minister, usher, and was head of the Lamp Lighter Prayer Meeting. Gaylord supported the community by volunteering in various ways such as serving as Santa Claus in Brownhelm Twp. He was a member of the Amherst American Legion Post #118. He especially enjoyed family gatherings and spending time with his grandchildren and also fishing, bowling, camping, and traveling.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Evelyn Kruse (nee Henshaw); his son, Gaylord C. Kruse, Jr., of Concord Township; his daughters, Linda O’Keefe, of Wellington, Cathy Innocenti and Gayle Brucker, both of Amherst, Teresa Krause, of Wakeman, Kimberly McIlrath, of Milan, and Deborah Queen, of Lorain; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Martha Kruse (nee Jensen); by his brothers, Willard, Marvin, and Leo F. Kruse; and by his sisters, Thelma Kothe and Bernadine Armstrong.
Friends may call Thursday, June 14, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. at the Hempel Funeral Home, 373 Cleveland Ave., Amherst. Closing prayers will be held Friday, June 15, 2007, at 9:30 A.M. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 A.M. from St. Joseph Catholic Church, 200 St. Joseph Dr., Amherst. The Rev. Fr. Lawrence Martello, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Amherst.

---

Print this story
Report an innappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.