Joni Kruse

Joni (Adams) Kruse was born August 21, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona, and passed on February 26, 2022 at Sparrow Health System in Lansing.  She graduated from Saguaro High School.  Joni raised three sons, Sean Hults, Kenneth Thompson and Kevin Thompson.
In Arizona, Joni drove a school bus, had a daycare business, and later started a career in retail management.
Two plus decades ago, Joni, along with her son Kevin Thompson, decided a life change was needed and moved to the farm country in Michigan, to reunite with Greg Kruse.
Joni spent the next 20 years as a Retail Manager at convenience stores and Dollar Tree. She also worked at Home Depot and Walmart. She said, “To really experience retail, one must work at Walmart for at least a year.” I am guessing those that have worked for Walmart must understand truly what she was saying.
As her husband, I watched Joni grow in the retail business, while learning to run a small farm with horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens and of course two dogs, her personal Old McDonald Farm.  She became bonded with the farm, the animals, and Mother Nature. Each year, I watched her grow in the retail business and soon she was able to wisely help run the farm, with many ideas that even I, as an old farmer was impressed and proud of her understanding of farm life.
Joni loved her arts and crafts! She loved to fill her booth at the Route 66 Antique Shop in Nashville with items she would find at yard sales. One of her true favorites were the Amish auctions.
Many people have reached out to me, expressing how much Joni did for them. She not only grew to be very self-confident, but she always was helping her co-workers, friends, neighbors, and business owners to learn and grow with her.
Joni is survived by her husband, Greg Kruse, her son Kevin Thompson, and last and certainly not least, her new granddaughter, Shyanne Lee Marie Thompson, that was such a pleasure to Joni in her last several months.
Joni was preceded in death by her sons, Sean Hults and Kenneth Thompson, along with her parents, DW Adams and Cleo (Green) Adams.
Joni will be missed but her smile will not be forgotten.  The family has requested for you to smile when you think of Joni, for that is what makes this world a brighter, better place!
A quote from one of many friends: “I know that in these last 20 years or so, Joni was a happy woman living life to its fullest.”  Another quote, “I feel so privileged to have known Joni.  She was everything you said and more!”
A celebration of life with wine, beer, pop and assorted snacks will be held from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, July 10th at The Vermontville Opera House, 237 S. Main Street, Vermontville, MI 49096.  This celebration of life will be an opportunity for so many folks that had paths in life that connected or crossed the trail of Joni’s life to visit once again.  Everyone is welcome!
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Daniels Funeral Home, Nashville, MI.  For more information, please visit www.danielsfuneralhome.net.