Daryl E. Kruse

Des Moines

Daryl Edward Kruse, 65, was called home on Monday, March 16, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the church.

He was born August 2, 1949 in Fort Dodge, IA to Emma and Albert Kruse. Daryl’s father ran the grocery store in town and it was an early introduction to what would someday be his career. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. When he returned home he and his brother, Denny, opened a grocery store in Humboldt, IA. This is where he met Marilyn and they were married in 1974. Daryl started his career with Hy-Vee in Fort Dodge but eventually transferred to Des Moines where he was a store director of three stores in the Des Moines area. Daryl retired in 2004 after 29 years with Hy-Vee.

He was a lifelong fisherman and hunter. For the last ten years, Daryl and Marilyn spent the summers in South Dakota where they had a home on Lake Oahe outside of Pierre. They fished for walleye each summer, enjoying their time on the lake. As soon as the seasons changed, Daryl was quick to get out the camouflage and prepare the duck boat for another season of hunting. He loved hunting with his son, Daniel, dog, Dakota and all of his hunting buddies. They recently purchased a farm in Riverton, IA which they appropriately named the “Quack Shack”.

Daryl loved children and believed all children should have a chance to catch a fish. This led him to start the Big Brothers Big Sisters Fishing Derby with Hy-Vee in 2001. This annual fundraising event ran for 13 years and gave hundreds of children a chance to fish, many for the first time.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; three daughters, Melissa (Scott), Jennifer (Richard) and Krystle (Jeff); and son, Daniel; and eight grandchildren who all called him “Papa”.

Daryl had a full and joy filled life. He was called from us early and his smile, laugh, and all his stories will be greatly missed.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Big Brothers Big Sisters.