Don Kruse Obituary

Don was an incredible person. I would often seek Don's knowledge of mathematics. He would always start with a fundamental set of facts and work through every practical step teaching me as he went. He always took the time from what he was doing to help enlighten others. What a beautiful mind and person.

I was out of town and just learned of Don's passing. I appreciated his sharing his knowledge of planes with me through the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild. I will him.

So very sorry to hear of Mr Kruse's passing.I spent many hours visiting with him while he waited on car repairs at Star Motors,he was a wonderful,genuine gentleman,I know he will be missed by many...Susan Wessel

What a wonderful man and teacher. He'll be sorely missed. He certainly made an impact on all who knew him and I count myself for that. Scott Engelmann (liberty, MO)

Jane,
My heart goes out to you and the rest of the family. Don was a very interesting man, and I feel privileged to have known him and to have spent time with him at the various tool shows, auctions and other events over the years. The area shows will never be the same without him. To have lost him and Dan Hurley within a year leaves a big void in the local woodworking community and in the M-WTCA, SWTCA & EAIA. So glad now that Sara and I were able to attend the EAIA show there in Kansas City a few years ago and see that wonderful display that Don put together for it. Sincerest Regards,

Thanks Don for all the information and history you provided me and the KC Woodworkers Guild members pertaining to woodworking hand tools. We all appreciated it very much.
John Tegeler

It was a pleasure knowing Don. I never once saw an antique tool that he could not offer a unique story or history. He always fascinated me with his stories. I will miss him and am grateful for his many contributions to the Kansas City Woodworkers' Guild.

A highlight of my engineering career was to have had the opportunity to work with Don, while at HNTB. He was certainly one of the most intelligent engineers I have known.

It was a special honor to have known and worked with Don. He was an incredibly smart but humble and generous person. He always had time for others and he set a great example of how humans should treat each other. He had a great laugh that was contagious and could fascinate for hours with stories about various subjects. Don will be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. My sincere condolences to Jane and the rest of Don's family.

I knew Don for most of his career at HNTB and we had many interesting conversatins about woodworking and old firearms. Don shared his knowledge freely and was a genial fellow. He'll be missed.

Don was a brilliant programmer and so unassuming and patient as a mentor and teacher to many engineers. I don't think his contribution to our nation's infrastructure can ever be measured. It is only through Don's work that so many others of us are able to be successful.

Don was a wonderful colleague, mentor and friend and it was a special honor to work with him. His general knowledge of how so many things work was amazing and inspiring. My heartfelt thanks to you Don for all of your guidance and patience. My love to his family and friends during this difficult time.

Uncle Don (as I knew him) was always a fascinating man to talk to and a great guy to be around.

Don was a good friend or our brother Dan Hurley who passed away last June 2011 Don would pick up Dan and take him to auctions in Richmond Missouri and Arkansas. I never realized until after Dan's death how interesting old tools are. Thanks to the family of Don for his kindness to our brother. Mary Jo (Hurley) Krause and Helen (Hurley) Caples and Dan's Mother Mary Hurley.

Not only will he be missed by the Guild and his family but he will be missed by the entire world. His vast knowledge of centuries old woodworking hand tools can never be replaced. I will miss him greatly. My sympathies to his family and friends.

Let me say personally and on behalf of the Kansas City Woodworkers' Guild, that we are very sorry to hear of Don's passing.

Don was our resident expert on hand tools ... the "go to" person. At any given membership meeting it was common for a member to bring in a found tool or family pass down for Don's advise on "what is this?", "what is it worth". Don for some time wrote a monthly article for our newsletter on unusual tools.

We'll greatly miss Don and his hand tool expertise.

The Guild meant a lot to Don and Don meant a lot to the Kansas City Woodworkers' Guild.

I extend my deepest sympathy to the Kruse family on Don's passing. I treasured him as a friend and colleague on old tools and he was my go to source for information. Don made a great contribution to the collective expertise of our woodworkers guild and we will miss him.
Don was a fine person to know. I wish the very best to his family in your time of loss.
Dave Kraatz