Russell Kruse - Kruse International Car Auction

When I first started the INS paperwork for my fiance (now wife), I ran into a bit of trouble with things getting done in a timely manner. Russell provided me with a name that would be helpful and he proved himself right. The INS changed the date and processing time from Oct 18 / 30 days to Oct 28 / 90 days and I contacted Russell's contact name and my paper work was processed and approved within the next 2 weeks.

Thank you Russell for your help - RIP <!-- s:cry: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cry.gif" alt="" title="Crying or Very sad" /><!-- s:cry: -->

Russell Wayne Kruse

Fort Wayne IN United States
RUSSELL WAYNE KRUSE, 84, of Auburn, died Friday, May 4, 2007, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, after suffering a massive stroke. He founded the auction company that eventually became Kruse International, one of the world's leading auction companies for collector cars. He was one of the founders of the annual Labor Day auction of collector cars, in Auburn, which began in 1971. Money raised by the auction made it possible to create the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. He began his working life as a farmer, helping his father, Fred Kruse, and father-in-law, Lester Boger. He attended Reppert's Auction School in 1952, and during his career he conducted auctions in Canada, Europe and across America. He was an appraiser, Realtor and auctioneer for 50 years. He was active in local, state and national auctioneers' boards and was made an honorary member after 50 years of service. He was chairman of the Indiana Auction Commission. He appraised for the Veterans Administration. He was a past president of the DeKalb County United Fund and was the only person to serve as its president for two consecutive terms. He was a member and past president of the DeKalb County American Red Cross and was a member of the DeKalb County Fair Board for 10 years, serving as vice president. He was chief auctioneer for the DeKalb County 4-H auction for 48 years. He was president of the Indiana Auctioneers Association, serving as its president in 1962, and a member of the Indiana State Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame. He was a member of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and a founding member of the executive board of DeKalb Memorial Hospital. He was president of the Northeast Indiana Board of Realtors and had been named a Sagamore of the Wabash. He was known for singing "Back Home Again In Indiana" at all Kruse auctions he attended. He also sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at many large auctions. Born Dec. 9, 1922, in the Kruse homestead farmhouse at the corner of CR 29 and CR 68 in DeKalb County, he was the son of Fred and Goldie (Gerig) Kruse. He married Luella Boger 18 years later and they had seven children. He married Lyubov Koutsova of St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1998 and she survives. Also surviving are four sons and daughters-in-law, Dean and Kristin (McGrade) Kruse of Auburn, David and Patricia (Worsham) Kruse of Auburn, Dennis and Kay (Yerden) Kruse of Auburn and Daniel and Candice (Rink) Kruse of San Antonio, Texas; two daughters and sons-in-law, Diann Kruse Ferris and Steve Ferris of Vernal, Utah, and Debbie Kruse Shoaff and Mike Shoaff of Leo; a daughter-in-law, Jackie (Weller) Kruse of Auburn; 22 grandchildren, Mitchell Kruse, Stuart Kruse, Dima Kruse, Devin Kruse, Andrew Kruse, Shannon Kruse, Dane Kruse, Janelle Kruse, Matthew Kruse, John Kruse, Timothy Kruse, Daniel Kruse, Jade Lemery, Thatcher Ferris, Jacob Ferris, Trenton Ferris, Tiffany Kruse, Tedra Kruse, Tara Puckett, Philip Shoaff, Rachel Shoaff, and Jessica Shoaff; a stepson, Kevin, and his wife, Maureen of Lafayette; three step grandchildren, Ben, Aaron and Chad; 19 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Helen (Kruse) Rowe of Auburn and Ruth Doris (Kruse) Moreland of Toronto. He was preceded in death by a son, Derald; and a brother, Herald. Service is 11 a.m. Monday at County Line Church of God, south of Auburn. Three of Mr. Kruse's grandsons, Mitchell, Stuart and Dane Kruse, all of whom are pastors, will officiate. Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Feller and Clark Funeral Home, 1860 S. Center St. Auburn. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Auburn. Memorials to World War II Victory Museum, PO Box 1, Auburn, IN 46706.