Helen C Kruse

March 26th, 1925 to January 16th, 2014
Cookie showed us that enthusiasm, a quick wit, stubborn determination, hard work and excellent baking skills are a recipe for a life well lived. Helen “Cookie” Kruse left this earth on January 16, 2014 after 88 years. Her husband, Robert Kruse, preceded her in death. Her sister, Clare Justice, survives her. She will be missed by her daughters and sons-in-law: Joey and Gary Cronce of Port Huron; Dianne and Michael Charron of Annapolis, MD; and Maryann and Rory Bens of San Leandro, CA; as well as her grandchildren: Amy (Keith) Collins; Robert (Tami) Cronce; Christopher (Wendy) Cronce; Todd (Sharon) Charron; Peter (Melissa) Kruse, Katharine (Christopher) Phelan and ten great-grandchildren.

Helen was born in Hamtramck, MI to the late Frank and Clara Lukasik in 1925. She married Robert Kruse in 1944 in New York, and after he returned from the war, they built their life and home in Port Huron. Helen worked as a waitress for over 70 years, only recently hanging up her shoes in January 2013 after 25 years of service at the Elks. She was an avid gardener who loved “playing in the dirt” and then sitting on her deck to take in the fruits of her labor and watch her bird friends enjoy the yard she beautified. If you ever did a favor for Cookie, you were likely the recipient of a batch of homemade blueberry muffins or another delicious baked good. She loved a good joke, a lively poker game, a great bargain, a nice glass of wine, a vigorous polka and a homemade meal. Cookie did not understand the words “no” or “can’t” and had a particular knack for figuring out how to overcome any obstacle. She was kind, smart, stubborn and funny. Cookie loved her family, and took special enjoyment in watching her great-grandchildren (“the little people”) grow up.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 30, 2014 in the Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, January 31 in the Church. A Memorial Mass will be held 11 a.m. on Friday, January 31 in the Holy Trinity Parish - St. Stephen Catholic Church.

Cookie preferred that flowers stay in their natural habitat. To honor her life, be kind to each other. Maybe feed someone. Be sure to tip your waitress. Memorials may be made to the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, the Blue Water Area Humane Society, or Mid City Nutrition Soup Kitchen.

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