Carolyn E. Kruse

Carolyn Edna (Richardson) Kruse passed away on May 8, 2012, at her residence, the King's Daughters Home in Midland.
Born in Midland, Michigan on August 19, 1916, Carolyn was the youngest of the eight children of Edgar Richardson and Friederica (Heidenreich) Richardson. She graduated from Midland High School at age 16, in 1933, and attended Midland County Normal, receiving her teacher's certificate in 1934. Just after she turned 18, Carolyn began her long teaching career in a one room school house in Midland County, teaching all eight grades.
She married Clarence Horton Kruse in 1937 and he predeceased her on July 29, 1999. They had two children, Susan, born in 1942, and Thomas, born in 1945. Carolyn took a ten year hiatus from teaching, beginning in 1942, to spend more time with her family. In 1952, she returned to teaching, in two room schools in North Bradley and Poseyville.
After many years of summer school and classes on weekends, fitting education into an already busy schedule as a wife, mother, teacher, and active community volunteer, Carolyn graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in June of 1958. The last twenty years of her teaching career were spent at Plymouth Elementary School in Midland. She retired in 1978. Teaching was her passion, and she was much beloved by her former students, many of whom have kept in touch over the years.
Carolyn and Clarence joined St. John's Episcopal Church in the early 1940's. Activities with their church community made up a meaningful part of much of the rest of their lives. Carolyn served on the Altar Guild, the Vestry, the Steven Ministry, Alpha Guild, Daughters of the King, and in countless other ways.
Singing was a joyful part of the lives of the Kruses. They sang in St. John's Choir for over fifty years, sang in the Dow Choruses and participated in many Midland Music Foundation Operettas. Carolyn acted in numerous Theater Guild productions, her most notorious role being that of Elvira, in the play, Blythe Spirit. As a life-long non-smoker, Carolyn surprised her family with her expertise, glamorously gesturing with a long cigarette holder, the rage of the period.
Travel was something both Carolyn and her husband enjoyed. They participated in several Dow sponsored trips to Europe and Alaska, went to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary, made their way to Taiwan in 1990 to visit their granddaughter, Anne, who was working there at the time, and traveled the United States to visit far-away friends and relatives. A trip to the Holy Land when she was in her early eighties was a highlight of her life.
After losing a sister and brother to cancer in the late 1940's, Carolyn made the fight against cancer a high priority in her life. She and Clarence were active in the Midland Cancer Society, presenting slide shows and information on cancer detection and prevention to groups throughout Midland County. Carolyn was also active in Alpha Delta Kappa, an organization of women educators.
Carolyn is survived by her daughter, Susan Wahr (David) and son Thomas (Karen Harbeson), grandchildren Anne Wahr (Heston Chu), Barbara Wahr (William Everett Rice), and Patricia Wahr (James Anderson), and great-grandchildren Cody Duddridge-Giancarlo, Molly Garrison, and Lilah and Nicolas Chu.
In addition to her immediate family, Carolyn is survived by loving nieces Sally (Stowits) Roberson, and her husband, Tad, and by Nancy (Stowits) Miller.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 PM Friday at St. John's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Rob Skirving officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 11:00 am until time of service. Private interment will be in Homer Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be offered to the Midland County Cancer Services, 220 W. Main St., Midland MI 48640. Arrangements are by the Wilson MILLER Funeral.