Norma Lee (Craig) Kruse, 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 7, 2019 at Wellbrooke of Westfield Nursing Home in Westfield, Indiana. She was born March 24, 1930 in Petersburg, Indiana, to the late William T. and Cleda A. (Sutton) Craig.
Norma was a member of White River Chapel United Methodist Church, Bowman, Indiana. She graduated from Petersburg High School in 1947 and went on to attend Indiana University. On September 22, 1949, she married the love of her life, the late Vernice W.H. Kruse. They made their family home in Petersburg, Indiana. Norma wore many hats as a devoted daughter, wife, mother, skilled typist, and partner in the family farm with her husband, Vernice. Throughout her career, she worked for various local attorneys including Hugh Dillon, Carl Gray, Jerry McGahee, Russell Mahoney, and Val Fleig. She also opened her own abstracting firm, operating for many years prior to her retirement.
Norma was well-loved by all who knew her. She was a friend to many and was always available for a warm smile and good conversation. She enjoyed the many friends who would drop by to visit. Some of her favorite times were those spent with a house full of family, gathered around the dinner table for one of her legendary suppers. Norma and her husband also loved traveling the world, with some of their favorite destinations being Italy, Hong Kong, and El Salvador. They doted on their grandchildren and Norma was much-loved by her great-grandsons, who enjoyed visiting her often.
Preceding her in death are her parents William T. and Cleda A. (Sutton) Craig, husband, Vernice W.H Kruse, daughter-in-law Teresa N. (Farmer) Kruse, and nephew Craig A. Etter.
Norma is survived by her sons, Stephen K. Kruse, M.D. (Lori A. Fetters) and Paul W. Kruse, M.D. (Donna); grandchildren, Jennifer A. (Bill) Taylor, Stephen P., Jonathan A. Kruse children of Stephen K. and Teresa N. Kruse, and Stephanie Kruse daughter of Paul and Donna Kruse; and great-grandchildren, William S., Drew H., and Benjamin H. Taylor.
Additional survivors include her dear sister, Vivian Jane (Craig) Etter, niece, Catherine J. (Etter) Farmer (Terry), and great-nieces and nephews, Jason (Michelle) Farmer, Nathan (Kaci) Farmer, Lindsay (Erin) Farmer, Joseph Clark, Collin (Lindsay) Clark, Kate (Jordan) Stringfield, and Creegan and Elaine Etter.
She is also survived by her step-grandchildren Devon and Morgan Fetters.
Visitation will be Friday, December 13 from 4-8 PM at Harris Funeral Home, Petersburg, Indiana. Funeral services will also be held at Harris Funeral Home on Saturday, December 14 at 10 AM, with a small graveside service and burial to follow at Walnut Hills Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to White River Chapel United Methodist Church, Bowman, Indiana.