John Kruse, 89

John Ruehl Kruse, age 89, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord Friday, February 27, 2026 at Optalis Health & Rehabilitation surrounded by his loving family.

Born April 28, 1936 in Mason, MI to Ruehl and Helen (Rugg) Kruse, John developed a love for woodworking as his dad worked in the lumber company around the block from their house. Just before his senior year of high school, the lumber company closed, resulting in a family move to Litchfield where his dad partnered in the purchase of a lumberyard.

Between a motorcycle accident and a lack of interest in permanent lumberyard work, John joined the Navy. He served in the Mediterranean Sea, where his vivid memories include switching ships through high-line transfer and praying he would not fall into the waters below, and traveling through the Suez Canal below deck while the ship was being shot at from the land. Many years later, he was honored to be chosen to be on the Talons Out Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2018.

Upon his return from basic training, a friend suggested the names of several eligible young ladies for him to date, and he phoned Verna Woodliff, who initially had conducted his new student interview for the Litchfield High School newspaper, “Terrier’s Bark.” They dated two weekends before his deployment; he requested she write him while he was away and she replied that he’d have to write first so she had the address. Thus began the authoring of their lifelong love story, which included marriage on November 2, 1957.

John availed himself of the GI Bill to earn a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree at Western Michigan University, and in 1963 moved to Three Rivers to take a job as a woodshop teacher and stage manager. He loved teaching and spent 30 years doing so in fields that also included drafting, building trades, metal shop, and driver’s education.

In his retirement years, he and Verna led Good Sam tours to the East Coast, including Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Bar Harbor, Maine.

John enjoyed playing Santa Claus for different companies and for Christmas Around Town, riding on a Three Rivers fire truck for photo opportunities downtown. He also portrayed Donald Duck for the Civitan Club, promoting its duck races at the Three Rivers Water Festival. He was involved with Habitat for Humanity and was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Three Rivers/Centreville, where he sang in the choir. Woodworking was his hobby and passion.

He loved his family deeply and often communicated that through laughter – frequently having a good joke or a bad dad joke on hand. He was a great friend, a conversationalist, and inspired many to pursue careers in the building trades.

Remaining to cherish his memory are his wife, Verna Kruse; three daughters, Pam (Brian Davies) Malinoski, Lynn (Randy) Page, and Julie Kruse; grandchildren, Alison (Chad) Smeltzer, Ryan (Lisa) Malinoski, Holly (Travis) Trapp, Sara (Anthony) Miller, Rebecca Lorenz (Matt Pudlo), Declan Hayes, Rachel (Terry) Adams, Jason Page, and Matt (Brittani) Page; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son, Stephen John Kruse, and two sisters, Jennie Clark and Jean Jones.

His family will receive friends Friday, March 6, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers, and Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Three Rivers/Centreville, 320 N. Main St., Three Rivers. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 at the church with Rev. Clint Cozier officiating. He will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery. Military honors will be performed under the auspices of American Legion Post #170.

Donations in John’s memory may be directed to Talons Out Honor Flight, First Presbyterian Church of Three Rivers/Centreville, or Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, Michigan. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church.