Alfred Kruse

Mr. Alfred Hewitt Kruse, Sr., 79, of Biloxi, MS, died Thursday, May 18, 2006, peacefully in his home. He will be sadly missed by his family and all the people who knew him. Mr. Kruse was a native and lifelong resident of Biloxi. He graduated from Biloxi High School in May '1945 and was voted most likely to succeed, Friendliest boy, vice president of the student council, treasurer of the National Honor Society of Biloxi, sports editor of the school paper, Junior Rotarian, and he received twelve years of perfect attendance. He was an U. S. Army veteran of WW II and was employed by the Bank of Mississippi for 49 years, first as a bank runner then becoming vice president of his branch in Biloxi. He retired in 1992 with great regret as he loved banking. He was loved by all who worked with hiim. Mr. Kruse was PTA president and treasurer for Jeff Davis Elementary School in Biloxi for two consecutive years. He was a member of the Biloxi Order of Demolay where he was elected Chapter Dad and everyone knew him as "Pop". He was a Mason and member of Magnolia Lodge in Biloxi, the Shriner's Temple, and the Fleur de Lise Society. Mr. Kruse was very active in his community and had a great love for his farm in Bendale, MS where he and his son, Fred, spent much of their time. He and Fred were there one last time the weekend before he passed and became one of God's angels. Mr. Kruse was of the Episcopal faith. Mr. Kruse was preceded in death by his parents, Charles W. and Kate McVay Kruse, four brothers and one sister. Survivors include his loving wife, of 53 years, Jeanette Bateman Kruse, who came to Mississippi from Georgia in 1949 and they were married in 1953. He is also survived by a son, Alfred H. Kruse, Jr. and his wife, Tracy; a daughter, Kay D. Holley; four grandchildren, Angela White and her husband, Scott, Andrew Holley, Trey Kruse, and Emily Kruse; one great grandchild, Taylor Holley, all of Biloxi. He is also survived by his beloved "Chi Chi", his pet companion. She will be lost without him. Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 21, 2005, at 2 p.m. at the Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi where friends may visit from 12 noon until service time. Entombment will follow in Southern Memorial Park.