Fred Kruse, 84 passed away Monday, May 6, 2024 in Spokane, Washington after a year and half battle with cancer.
Fred was born November 1, 1939 in Ford, Idaho (Kootenai County) to Merle and Violet Kruse (Sparling). He was the third oldest in a family of ten children. The family moved to Fairfield, Washington then Mt Hope. He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1957. He loved telling stories of growing up with his siblings on the northern Palouse.
After High School, Fred joined the Marines as a reserve. One of his main jobs was crewing helicopters. He achieved the rank of Sergeant. He also worked for Boeing during this time as a machinist. He married Alice Wright in 1958 and had 2 children, Karren and Kevin.
In the late sixties he relocated to Ketchikan, Alaska where he worked in the pulp mill. He had many stories of hunting and fishing that he loved to share with family and friends. During this time, he became pen pals through Alaska Magazine with Janice Cox of Sydney, Australia. His initial letter was returned for lack of postage and Fred almost threw it out but added the appropriate postage and sent it. They wrote back and forth for 3 years and in 1974, Janice traveled over with her two boys Trevor and Matthew and went to the Expo in Spokane. They returned to Ketchikan and were married shortly afterwards. Two years later they welcomed a son, Lance.
In 1976 Fred and family moved south to Lacey, Washington and eventually Port Townsend, Washington, where they lived for 16 years. He worked at Indian Island in the maintenance department. He put his three boys through high school, then relocated to Auburn Washington and worked in facilities maintenance at Valley Medical Center until he retired in 2006.
Fred and Jan spent their retirement in Kettle Falls Washington. Fred was an avid gardener all his life, he always had large vegetable and flower gardens, and received awards for his cabbage and other vegetables. In Kettle Falls, he ran the farmers market for many years. People would often come by for his tomato starts and assortment of squash. He spent time volunteering for various organizations around Kettle Falls.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents Merle and Violet Kruse, brothers Paul, Ron and Ralph Kruse and Grandson Connor Miller-Cox.
Fred will be missed by his wife Janice, daughter, Karren Kruse and sons, Kevin Kruse, Trevor Cox (Michaeli), Matthew Cox, and Lance Kruse (Jennifer). He is also survived by his grandchildren Alex and Justin Cox and Rylen and Kaleb Kruse and six of his brothers and sisters along with numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a celebration of life for Fred on July 13, 2024 at 2 PM at Fairfield Community Center, 304 East Main Street, Fairfield, Washington. In lieu of flowers please visit and support your local farmers market. Donations in Fred’s memory can be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
A memorial web page is available to share a story or condolence: www.forevermissed.com/frederick-kruse
