FAREWELL TO RICHARD KRUIS..

Mr. Richard Kruis, one of our favorite senior golfers of the late '90's, passed on to be with our Lord last week. Mr. Kruis loved to play with friends and or family. I don't ever recall him coming to play by himself. His "permanent" smile (just look at this recent picture!) and optimistic outlook were his trademark. As he usually came a little earlier than his friends, we often shared our thoughts about faith, as well as golf.

Mr. Kruis was born in a country home in Michigan, in 1917. In his teens, he worked at the General Motors plant in Grand Rapids, MI and was a proud veteran of WWII as he joined the armed services for 4 1/2 years.

He worked as a cook at Rehoboth Mission for a short time after the War, where he met and married Mae Van Zwol, who was a nurse. He went to Bible college and then they returned to the Four Corners area where they spent many challenging and interesting years sharing the Gospel with the Navajo people.

Mr. Kruis loved to relax by fishing and golfing with his friends...especially with fellow pastor, Roger Posthuma... and naturally, he inspired several of his sons to become golf devotees... next generation!!