Lorena Emma (Kruse) Higgins

Lorena Kruse Higgins, 88, of Beatrice, passed away at her home February 13, 2015 surrounded by her family.  Lorena was born in York, NE on December 26, 1926. She was one of eight children born to John and Helen Kruse. She attended Windy Hill Elementary School in Pawnee County and graduated from Burchard High School in 1945.

After graduating she worked at the Paddock Hotel in Beatrice. She married Duane Higgins in 1946. They worked together on farms in Tecumseh, Wymore and a dairy farm near Beatrice.  In 1974 they moved to the city of Beatrice.

She was a homemaker until 1966 when she went to work at Campbell’s Soup Company, Tecumseh. She retired from Campbell’s in 1992.

Lorena was an active member of the West Side Baptist Church since 1961.  Lorena was a Sunday school teacher, worked with the youth group, and was a clerk. Some of her great-grandchildren are attending Sunday School, now making this the 5th generation of Higgins to attend West Side Baptist Church.  She was very fond of all other church members she met over the years including Pastor Jon Palmquist.

Lorena enjoyed gardening, canning, crossword puzzles, spending time with her family, and especially her cats.  She fed the birds and squirrels in the winter time. She also enjoyed talking with her friends on the phone.

She traveled to various places in the USA on both the east and west coasts and Canada.  When her older son Gary was stationed in Germany she and her husband Duane traveled to Germany and visited various countries in Europe.  Her favorite country was Holland.  While in Germany she met an Uncle and Aunt, and various cousins on her mother’s side of the family she had never met before.

Survivors include sons, Terry and wife Theda of Beatrice, Gerald and wife Crystal of Beatrice, daughters, Karen Zimmerman and special friend John of Napa, California, Janice Stromitis of Beatrice, Kellie Thomas and husband George of Beatrice, Patty Earl and husband Kevan of Amelia, OH; daughter-in-law, Sharon Higgins of Charlottesville, Virginia and 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Siske of Tecumseh, NE; brothers, Carl Kruse and wife Margie of Colorado, Walter Kruse and wife Anita of Beatrice, Harry Kruse of Wymore, NE; sister-in-law, Mildred Higgins of Beatrice, and brother-in-law, Carl Higgins of Montana; many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband, Duane in 2007,  parents, John and Helen Kruse; parents-in-law John and Bertha Higgins, oldest son, Gary Higgins and granddaughter Rebecca Higgins; brothers, Don and John Kruse; sister, Anna Stuteville, brother-in-law, William Stuteville; sister-in-law, Marlene Kruse, brother-in-law, Gene Siske; and many in-laws Clarence, Wilma, Shirley, Goldie, Lloyd and Helen.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 19, 2015 at the West Side Baptist Church in Beatrice.  A closed casket visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday at Harman-Wright Mortuary, with the family greeting friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday evening. Memorials are established to the Beatrice Humane Society with the mortuary in charge.  www.harmanwrightmortuary.com Harman-Wright Mortuary, Beatrice in charge of arrangements.

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