Karen Kruse

Karen Kay Kruse, 66, of La Crosse, WI passed away at her daughter’s home surrounded by her family on February 16, 2021 after a courageous battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).  

A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 27, 2021, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 307 East Main Street, St. Lucas, IA, with Rev. Nick Radloff presiding.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church.  The Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Karen was born December 24, 1954 to Leland and Adeline (Bender) Brownlee in Boscobel, WI. Karen attended Boscobel High School. She married Harold (Dick) R. Boebel on February 27, 1971 and they raised three children, Jason, Jody and Jenny. They later divorced. 

On March 17, 2000, Karen married the love of her life, Don Kruse; together they enjoyed life. Karen loved spending time with family and friends; she enjoyed golfing, traveling, and playing cards. Karen worked for a period of 30 years for Lands’ End Corporation, Dodgeville, WI. She started at Boscobel, WI, as a sewer, worked in various Lands’ End departments, was a buyer for the company, and finished her career as a Plant Manager in West Union/Elkader, Iowa. She had a very special bond with the employees at Lands’ End both during and after her employment. 

Karen is survived by son Jason (Janet) Boebel of Cassville, WI, daughters Jody Howell of La Crosse, WI; Jenny (Shawn) Martin of Bagley, WI; her stepdaughters Kim (Collin) Bender of Waconia, MN; Kelley (Joe) Pujol of Cape Girardeau, MO. She is also survived by brother Robert (Valerie) Brownlee of Buffalo, MN; brother-in-law Jean (Glenda) Kruse of Oakdale, CA; sister-in-laws Pamela Brownlee of Woodman, WI, Helen Pinter of Fort Atkinson, IA, Mary (Tom) Karau of Scottsdale, AZ and Anne (Dale) Olson of Bozeman, MT. Her grandchildren are: Aaron (Kailey), Jett, Abrham and Gianni Boebel; Brandon (Nicole) and Paige Howell; Zebulon Riley; Brock, Blake and Haley Bender; Allie, Jacie and Carly Pujol; several wonderful nieces and nephews. 

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Leland and Adeline Brownlee; siblings Donald, Michael, Ralph, an infant brother and Kurt; aunts and uncles; and her beloved Don Kruse.