Jeanette Helen Kruse

Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Jeanette Helen (Ulmen) Kruse, 89, of Mankato, entered into eternal peace on October 14, 2025, surrounded by her family at Mayo Health Systems, Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Clair with Fr. Robert Schneider as celebrant. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Janesville Chapel of Dennis Steffel Omtvedt Funeral Homes with a 7 p.m. rosary. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Wednesday.

Jeanette was born on September 6, 1936, to Robert and Frieda (Schimek) Ulmen of rural Mankato. Jeanette was raised on a farm near Minneopa State Park and was an active member of 4-H; she won several ribbons for her expertise in canning and gardening. Jeanette attended Ss. Peter & Paul grade school and graduated from Good Counsel Academy in 1954. She worked at the Blue Earth County Court House for five years in the Clerk of Courts Office. On May 31, 1960, she was united in marriage to Charles Leo Kruse at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Mankato. Jeanette was a devoted wife and mother. She worked with Charles on their family farm and she had a huge garden, overflowing with flowers and vegetables. One of her specialties was fresh cucumber salad (straight from the garden) and bouquets of gladiolus (her dad’s favorite). Jeanette loved to cook and bake and she made the best strawberry cheesecake, pumpkin pie, caramels, divinity, sweet pickles and banana cream pie. Jeanette was a lifelong member of the Immaculate Conception Church, and an active supporter of the Council of Catholic Women (CCW); she served on the Funeral Luncheon Committee for several years and she was a volunteer organist for more than 20 years.

Jeanette enjoyed spending time with family, baking, polka dancing, and watching Vikings and Twins games. Jeanette and Charles were past members of the POLKA Lover's Klub of America and the Monterey Ballroom Dance Club of Owatonna. Jeanette also enjoyed playing cards, traveling in their RV, and traveling abroad. Memorable was a 1984 trip to Vatican City when she met Pope John Paul II and he reached out and touched her hand.

Jeanette was a humble servant of the Lord and she had a loving and generous heart. She leaves memories to be cherished by her children: Dale, Steve (Lynda), Kevin (Michelle) and Diann (Bill) Ward; nine grandchildren: Bradley (Gin) Kruse, Kendra (Matt) Ryan, Derek (Carly) Kruse, Maria Kruse, Elijah Kruse, Charlie Ward, Morgan (Brody) Hanson, Gage (Kasey) Thom, and Bailie (Jon) Madden; five great-grandchildren: Neva Kruse, Jett Ryan, Willow Hanson, Boeden Thom, Sami Thom, along with baby girl Kruse and baby girl Hanson, both due to arrive in January. She is also survived by her sister, Linda (Ed) Schweiss of Springfield and brother-in-law, Harold (Becky) Kruse of Janesville along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, sisters Kathleen Tharp and Dorothy Cain (Raymond), sisters-in-law Vera Ann (Jerry) Sullivan, Dolores (Ken) Goettl and Carolyn (Jack) Hendrick, and brother-in-law Ronald (Jeannie) Kruse.

A special thank you to the physicians and nurses at Mayo Health Systems, and the staff at Mankato Lodge Senior Living for their exceptionally compassionate and loving care.

To honor Jeanette, please feel free to wear red (her favorite color) to Mass.