Dorothy Joan Kruse

Dorothy Joan Kruse, 86, died Friday, May 29, 2020 at Wheatridge Park Care Center in Liberal, Kansas. She was born October 27, 1933 in rural Geneseo, Kansas the daughter of Joseph Warren Hunter and Dorothy Marie Stratman of Geneseo, Kansas.

Joan graduated from Geneseo High School in 1952. She was a cheerleader for Geneseo High School. Growing up on the farm she fell in love with animals, cats, dogs, chickens and her horse Trixie.

She was married to Harley Kruse from 1953-1977. She was a loving mother. She also worked at JC Penney, Golden Corral and had her own cleaning service. She was very active in her community volunteering. She grew up in the Geneseo Methodist Church, when she first came to Liberal she was a member of First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and helped run the Family Life Center then transferred to Church of Christ. Joan was also President of The Republican Women’s Club. Many members of the community will also remember Joan selling Avon, she was very fond of the friendship and neighbors that were her customers and became dear friends. She never met a stranger in her life. Joan was very proud of her large family and was always spending as much time with her family as she could.

Survivors include:

Daughters
Miriam (Morris) Brassfield of Houston, Texas
Kathy (Tom) Fitzgerald of Liberal, Kansas
Tanae Kruse of Liberal, Kansas

Brother
Wayne Hunter of Lyons, Kansas

Sister
Phyllis Gray of Salina, Kansas

Grandchildren:
Shawna (Brent) Evans
Kyle (Holly) Brewer
Micah (Andy) Somerville
Macey (Travis) Wallace
Jacob Fitzgerald
Andrew (Kellee) Fitzgerald
Caleb (Sayde) Fitzgerald
Brooke (Jacob) Cedillo
Britney (Peter) Choun
Brianna Yowell
Blake Cunningham

Great-Grandchildren
Cole and Emma Evans; Faith and Elijah Brewer; Camden Petrie; Olivia and Mallory Somerville; Jackson, Lawson, Nikki Wallace; George, Tim and Seth Fitzgerald; Luke, Lanee and Emilee Fitzgerald; Jack and Hank Fitzgerald; Jordan and Jaxton Cedillo; Aaliyah and Ily Choun; and Michael Alonzo.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Clayton Hunter and Homer Hunter; sister Estelle Schmidt; infant brother John Warren Hunter; Velda Joyce Hunter; grandson Brett Cunningham; and infant grandson Luke Fitzgerald.

Visitation will be Wednesday June 3, 2020 at 9AM to 12PM. Funeral Services are private. Graveside services will be on Thursday June 4, 2020 at 11:00AM in Geneseo Cemetery in Geneseo, Kansas. Social Distancing procedures will be utilized for the graveside service and request space under the tent is reserved for the family. Per the families wishes, Facebook live will be utilized for the funeral and graveside ceremonies.

Memorial Contributions are suggested to Geneseo Cemetery or Geneseo City Museum in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home 1212 W. 2nd Street, Liberal, Kansas 67901
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome.com