William Lucien Kruse
William Lucien Kruse of Cameron passed away at his home on the evening of May 22.
He was born on July 31, 1928, in Cameron to Dr A.E. and Lois Kruse. He graduated from Yoe High School and then Texas A&M University in 1949. He later earned a Master's Degree from Texas Tech after serving in the US Army but was an Aggie through and through.
Lucien loved horses and was an outstanding calf roper as part of the Texas A&M rodeo team. While working for the USDA in Mineral Wells, Lucien made frequent trips to Fort Worth for weekend rodeos and there met his future wife of 56 years, Joanie, who passed away in 2013.
Lucien transferred to Austin in 1956. One weekend Joanie flew to Austin and when she showed up with her saddle in tow, it sealed the deal.
Lucien worked for the Soil Conservation service in Bryan in 1957 when he and Joanie were married on July 13, 1957. They lived on the Seale ranch in Benchley and continued to rodeo every weekend. Their first son, Clay, was born there, as was their middle son, Cody. In 1964, they moved to manage Goodland Farms near Hearne, where youngest son, Kyle, was born. They moved to Cameron in 1975.
Lucien was one of those fortunate individuals who found true happiness on this earth in his vocation. He loved farming and ranching and had an extra spring in his step when the year's cotton crop made a stand.
He was an authentic member of the dying breed of genuine American cowboys having worked on the Y.O. ranch as a young man and ranching cattle to his last day. In addition to his horses and cattle, Lucien loved Aggie and Yoemen football, saltwater fishing and, of course, his family. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Calvert and Cameron.
Lucien is preceded in death by his wife, Joanie; and oldest son, Clay Kruse of Cameron.
He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Cody and Georgia Kruse of Richardson, and son and daughter-in-law, Kyle and Rhonda Kruse of Cameron, and sister, Erin Jackson of Baytown. He had five grandchildren: Jake, Laura and Clint Kruse of Richardson and Savannah and Stockton Kruse of Cameron. He is also survived by companion, Ruth Humble of Cameron.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Walker’s Creek cemetery.