James Kruse

1945 - 2025

James Randall Kruse

1945 - 2025

Salt Lake City, UT-It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of James (Jim) Randall Kruse on January 28, 2025, in Kilgore, Idaho. Jim was born on January 19, 1945, in O'Neill, Nebraska where his family ranched and farmed. As a child, Jim was highly intelligent and endlessly curious. He attended the Martha School, a one room schoolhouse in Holt County, Nebraska. There, his curiosity was not always appreciated. One school year when Jim was young, a teacher tied him to his desk to keep him from moving about the classroom eavesdropping on what the older students were learning.

After he graduated high school, Jim went to Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1965, Jim spent a semester at American University in Washington D.C. He often referred to this experience as "life changing." In D.C., Jim made lifelong friends and found his passion for the law. After graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan with honors in 1967, he attended George Washington University Law School. Immediately after graduating, Jim moved to Salt Lake City, Utah and became a member of the Utah State Bar in 1970.

Jim was a founding partner of Kruse, Landa, and Maycock (later named Kruse, Landa, Maycock, and Ricks), a well-established and reputable law firm that was successful for almost 40 years. In 2017, Jim joined Michael Best. During his more than 50 years of law practice, Jim developed the leading securities law practice in Utah and his professional excellence was recognized through numerous accolades. Actively involved with the Utah State Bar, particularly in the Securities and Corporate Law Sections, Jim served on the Securities Advisory Committee to the Utah Securities Division and was Chairman of the Securities Section. In 1983, Jim was appointed by Governor Matheson to the Utah State Securities Advisory Board. Jim was the real deal and was adored by his clients and colleagues, whom he truly cared about.

In the late 1980s, Jim met the love of his life, Mary Jo Smith. Jim and Mary often remarked how much they had to love each other to be able to work and live together every day and still be happy. Despite having no child rearing experience, Jim became an active father to Mary's son and daughter, and eventually a hands-on grandparent to his 5 grandchildren. On Jim's 51st birthday, he was even in the delivery room for the birth of his first grandson.

Jim valued education and was driven by intellectual curiosity. He was a member of the Board of Governors for Nebraska Wesleyan University from 1990 to 2014 and was appointed a Governor Emeritus in 2019. In his free time, Jim loved spending time with Mary, friends, and family at their ranch in Kilgore, Idaho. He loved to travel as it fulfilled his need for learning and his desire to understand the broader world. He and his wife Mary traveled the globe, from touring the Greek Isles to dog sledding in Minnesota. Shortly before his death, Jim fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting the Amazon. In July 2024, he spent two weeks there with his grandson, Wyatt. Jim wore many hats – husband, father, grandfather, friend, attorney, sailor, rancher, artist, baker, pizza chef, and knifemaker – and he never stopped learning. All who knew him are better for it.

Jim is survived by his son, Calvin Greyson Smith; his daughter, Nathalie Doherty (Smith); and his beloved grandchildren: Jackson James Smith, Wyatt Allen Smith, Elsie Ray Doherty, Emme Carolina Doherty, and Liam Gage Doherty. He was preceded in death by his parents Loran Kruse and Veva Kruse (Hinkle), his sister Karen Mason (Kruse), and his younger brother Gary Kruse.

Thank you for sharing your life with us, Jim. We will miss you dearly, Pop Pop. Elsie, Emme, and Liam say that your last batch of whole wheat bread with walnuts was the best ever!

Please join us to celebrate Jim's life on April 18, 2025 from 5-7:30 pm in the atrium and ballroom at the Marriott University Park, 480 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to https://www.nebrwesleyan.edu/give