Caroline E. Kruse

Mass of Christian Burial for Caroline E. Kruse, age 88, of Norfolk, Nebraska, will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Reverend Vincent Germace will be the celebrant, with interment in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk.

Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the church, with a 5:00 p.m. Vigil Service and Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard Presentation.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

Carol passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Norfolk Veterans Home.

Born in Spencer, Nebraska, on June 25, 1937, Caroline E. Soukup was the fifth of nine children of Emmanuel and Mary (Weeder) Soukup. She graduated from Spencer High School in 1954 and went on to attend St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska graduating in 1958.

Shortly after finishing nursing school, Caroline met Dean Kruse. They married in 1959 and were blessed with six children: Mark, Jean, Theresa, Jim, David, and Dan.

In 1967, the Kruse family made their home in Norfolk, where Carol balanced her career as a nurse with raising her family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who cherished time spent with her loved ones.

Carol was known for her warm heart, her deep faith, and her many talents. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, participating in the Rosary Group and volunteering in numerous ways. She also loved her book (wine) club and cherished the friendships that developed over 25 years of reading together. She also took great joy in quilting - each child and grandchild was the recipient of at least one of her lovingly handmade and coveted quilts.

Carol’s kitchen was a place of joy and comfort. She was famous for her cinnamon rolls and chocolate chip cookies, and she made every holiday feel magical. Two of her cherished traditions were gathering the grandchildren each Christmas to read the Nativity story and for all the family to sing “The 12 Days of Christmas.” She always printed off the lyrics, and each verse was sung by the person/persons with that birthday month. It made for some hilarious memories.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dean Kruse; her parents, Emmanuel and Mary Soukup; and her siblings, Mary Lou Wendt and Tom Soukup.

Left to cherish her memory are her six children, Mark Kruse (Karol Powell) of Austin, TX, Jean Drake (Mike) of Norfolk, NE, Theresa Horton (Jeff) of Lincoln, NE, Jim Kruse of Norfolk, NE, David Kruse (Jennifer) of Norfolk, NE, and Dan Kruse (Sandy) of Wheaton, IL; 16 grandchildren, Levi, Laura, Kalen, Conor, Kaylor, Bryan, Nathaniel, Jackson, Isaak, Hudson, Gabriel, Olivia, Braydi, Joseph, Joshua, and Caleb; 12 great-grandchildren; and her siblings, Dorothy Connot, Alice Krotter, Frank Soukup, Arlene Connot, Cathie Fuxa, and Dave (Linda) Soukup.

Memorials may be directed to Catholic Charities or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Caroline E. Kruse, please visit our floral store.