Lonnie A. Kruse

Lonnie A. Kruse, 67, died September 23, 2016 in rural Ellsworth, Kansas.  He was born December 28, 1948 in Ellsworth, Kansas, the son of Arthur E. and Helen Louise Hurd Kruse.  Lonnie has resided in Sterling since 1981, formerly of Lorraine, Norton, and Kiowa.  He graduated from Holyrood High School with the class of 1967.  Lonnie received his Bachelor of Science degree from Sterling College in 1971 and Master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1972.   He taught at Norton and Kiowa in the public school system from 1972-1981.  He was  Professor of Physical Education, former Athletic Director and head Women’s Basketball Coach at Sterling College from 1981-2014.  Lonnie was also a lifelong farmer and rancher.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Lyons where he served as usher and was a former Deacon; member of the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association; he was inducted into the Sterling College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994; The Sterling College Basketball Court was named in his honor in 2013; the KCAC Coach of the year award was named in his honor in 2014; in 2015 he was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame; he will be inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in March 2017.  On May 23, 1970, Lonnie was united in marriage with Carol R. Wyatt in Sterling.  She survives of the home.  Other survivors include 4 daughters, Lisa Surface of Lecompton, Kansas, Darci and Jason Briar, Stacie and Jeremy Lewis, and Erin and Rob Newberry all of Sterling; sister, Dixie and Jim Swisher of Inman; 13 grandchildren; Seth and Kade Surface; Lucas, Kali and Isaac Briar; Jacob Kaitlin, Emma and Austin Lewis; Wyatt, Caleb, Colton and Brooklyn Newberry; 8 nieces; 2 nephews; and many great nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents.  Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at the Sterling College Gymnasium with Rev. Joel Grizzle officiating.  Visitation will be 2:00 to 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at First Baptist Church in Lyons with family present 5:00 to 7:00 P.M.  Memorials can be made to Sterling College Women’s Basketball Program or First Baptist Church of Lyons in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.      

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