Duane Lester Kruse

Duane Lester Kruse, age 80, of Lanark, IL, passed away Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in his home. Cremation rites will be accorded. A funeral service will be held Monday, August 12, 2019, at the First Brethren Church in Lanark at 11 am. Visitation will be held Sunday, August 11, 2019 from 4 pm to 7 pm at First Brethren Church, and also one hour prior to Monday’s service. The Masonic Rite will take place during the Sunday visitation at 6:30 pm. A memorial will be established in his memory. Family and friends are invited to share in Duane’s life at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com .

Duane was born July 12, 1939, in Freeport, IL, the son of Lester and Doris (Butterbaugh) Kruse. He attended Freedom School as a child, graduating from Lanark High School with the class of 1957. On November 14, 1958, at the Baptist Church in Mt. Carroll, Duane married his wife of 60 years, Doris Gelwicks and they were blessed with four children.

Duane built a legacy, breeding and raising purebred Angus cattle for 50 years. He established DeKap Angus Farm in 1968. Last year his herd was recognized by the American Angus Association as a Historic Angus Herd. Duane sold Angus Bulls throughout the Midwest for many years. In 1998, he was named Illinois Seed-stock Producer of the Year. Duane traveled the country attending numerous Angus events and was a regular at the Denver Stock Show. Duane worked hard on his family farm and was a recipient of the Carroll County Conservation Farmer of the Year Award. When he wasn’t hard at work, Duane enjoyed dancing, flying his airplane, and family events. Duane was a member of the Lanark Masonic Lodge. Above all else, he loved and valued his family.

Duane will be dearly missed by his wife Doris; one son, Dan (Mary) Kruse of Mt. Carroll IL, three daughters, Dena (Mike) McKnight of DeKalb, IL, Danita (Dick) Emford of Lena, IL, and Darci (Josh) Francque of Dixon, IL; eight grandchildren, Mistia Cook, Jose Castro, Rebecca Kruse, Haley Emford (fiancé, Kyle Johnson), August Emford, MD, Mary Francque, JD (fiancé, Andrew Lauver), Victor Francque, and Alyssa McKnight; four great-grandchildren, Jozlynn, Cutter, Priseis, and Cyrus; two sisters, Darlene Breemes of Greenwood, NE and Diane (Frank) Konfrst of Blair, NE; and a sister-in-law, Marcie Kruse of Lanark, IL; and nieces and nephews.

Duane is preceded in death by his parents Lester and Doris Kruse, brother Darryl Kruse, and brother-in-law Jerry Breemes.