On Monday, August 23, 2021, Harley Dean Kruse, loving husband and father of 5 children, passed away at the age of 86 at Wheatridge Care Center in Liberal, Kansas.
He was born on August 20th, 1935 to Chester Arthur Kruse and Martha Caroline Scheib in Ellsworth, Kansas. Harley graduated high school from Geneseo, Kansas. Harley and family moved to Liberal with the Kansas Highway Patrol. He later began his own business, Kruse Dirt Construction. On April 20th, 1985, he married the love of his life Cynthia Kay Engstrand in Liberal, Kansas. Harley had a passion for the community, helping others, feeding anyone who came to his house, working cattle with family and friends, and supported anything his family was involved in. Harley could not do anything small whether it be adding onto the community golf course, building a racetrack, or feeding hundreds of high school and college athletes at his house in Liberal. Harley received many merits for his community involvement. Harley belonged to the Liberal Masonic Lodge, was on the Executive Board for the BSA Santa Fe Trail Council where he also received multiple awards and received the Unsung Hero Award for the city of Liberal. Harley was kind, funny, hardworking, had a booming voice, and left an everlasting imprint on his family, friends, and acquaintances.
Harley is survived by his wife, Cynthia Kruse, daughters Miriam (Morris) Brassfield, Kathy (Tom) Fitzgerald, Tanae Kruse, Alexis (Alex) Hayob, and son Adam (Emily) Kruse. Harley is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, Shawna (Brent) Evans, Kyle (Holly) Brewer, Jacob Fitzgerald, Andrew (Kellee) Fitzgerald, Caleb (Sayde) Fitzgerald, Brooke (Jacob) Cedillo, Britney Yowell, Brianna Yowell, Blake Cunningham, Gretchen Hayob, Gillian Hayob, Jace Kruse, and Charlotte Kruse. In addition, Harley is survived by seventeen great grandchildren, George, Timothy, Seth, Luke, Delanee, Emilee, Jack, Hank, Cole, Emma, Faith, Elija, Jordan, Jaxton, Ily, Aaliya, and Michael. Harley is also survived by brother, Kermit (Thais) Kruse, sister, Linda Weeks.
Harley is preceded in death by parents, Chester Kruse and Martha Suchland, brother Stanley Kruse and his wife Twila Kruse, and grandson Brett Cunningham.
Visitation will be 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at the Hornung Family Funeral Home 1212 W. 2nd Street Liberal, Kansas. The family will be present from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Service will be 10:00 AM Friday, August 27, 2021, First Baptist Church 204 N. Sherman Liberal, Kansas Rev. Rex Petty presiding.
Interment will follow at the Liberal Cemetery.
Memorial donations suggested to Spanish Peaks Boys Scouts in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home 1212 W. 2nd Street Liberal, Kansas
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome.com
