Rita C. Kruse

Rita C. Kruse, 68, of Columbus, IN, died on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Myers-Reed Chapel on 25th Street with Rev. Mike Malinsky officiating. Calling hours will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, May 19, and from 9:30 a.m. until the 10:30 a.m. service on Saturday. Burial will be at Garland Brook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Ovarian Cancer Research or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Columbus, IN.

Rita was born in New Palestine, IN. on November 11, 1943, the daughter of Carl J. and Marie (Reinking) Nicol. She grew up in the Wegan community of Jackson County. She was a graduate of Brownstown High School and Indiana State University. She received a Master’s Degree in education from Indiana University. Rita worked as an elementary teacher in Bartholomew and Jennings Counties. She was a first grade teacher at Scipio Elementary School for over 20 years. She retired in 2009 after 31 years of teaching.

Rita married Jerry L. Kruse on Sept. 12, 1970, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Brownstown, IN. He survives along with two daughters, Jennifer (Brad) Barber of North Vernon, IN, and Karen (Brian) Bush of Columbus, IN. She has two granddaughters, Whitney Claire Barber and Anna Caroline Bush. Also surviving are one brother, Carl Eugene (Beverly) Nicol of New Palestine, and a sister, Ruthann (Robert) Neff of Columbus. She has several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Rita was a member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where she was active in bible study. She served as director of Vacation Bible School for three years while her children were young. She was a member of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association and Delta Kappa Gamma. Her hobbies included genealogy, writing poems, baking, shopping, crossword puzzles and playing with her grandchildren.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents and a granddaughter, Eliza Marie Bush.