Obituary: Sue Kruse

Sue Kruse
May 15, 2024

May 22, 1929 — May 6, 2024

Sue Kruse, a longtime resident of Ashland, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2024, at Celia’s House Hospice in Medford. Born on May 22, 1929, in Astoria, she was the daughter of Edwin and Anna Judd.

Sue dedicated part of her early career to education as a school teacher, touching the lives of many students with her kindness and passion for learning. Later, she transitioned into real estate, serving the Southern Oregon community until her retirement in 1992.

A world traveler, Sue spent time in Europe, Australia, Mexico and Canada. She loved the game of bridge, playing tennis, cooking for her family and walking the hills and neighborhoods of Ashland on warm summer evenings. Her greatest joy was her family, and her long life was a testament to the love and dedication she gave to them.

Sue was preceded in death by her husbands, Charles Keefer and Bill G. Kruse, and her sisters, Carol Babcock and Betty Neikes. She leaves a legacy of love, laughter, and cherished memories with her two daughters, three stepdaughters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A service to celebrate Sue’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 17, at Our Lady of the Mountain Church in Ashland, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Celia’s House Hospice in Medford, in honor of their compassionate mission.

Sue will be remembered for her unwavering dedication to family, her indomitable spirit and her generous heart. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Obituaries may be submitted to Ashland.news via our online article submission form, or via email to [email protected], with a photo or two attached if desired. Please be sure to include dates of birth and death, and reference to connections to Ashland/Talent/Southern Oregon. Please allow a few days for posting. There is no charge. Those wishing to make a donation supporting the Ashland.news service may do so here.

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Obituary: Jason A. Wilson

Obituary: Jason A. Wilson, a retired Lt. Cmdr. in the U.S. Navy, passed away Dec. 23, 2025. He was 90. During his life, Jason made an impact on innumerable lives. He believed in serving and respecting others, including his family, country, and every person he met.

Read More »

Obituary: Mary Lou Boardman Wennlund

Obituary: Mary Lou Boardman Wennlund passed away on Oct. 5, 2025. The longtime Ashlander forged many fond friendships, enjoyed being active at the YMCA, attended the Ashland United Church of Christ, and participated in many Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes (especially those featuring movies…!).

Read More »

Obituary: Robert (Bob) Michael Vlach

Obituary: Robert (Bob) Michael Vlach passed away peacefully Dec. 27, surrounded by family, following a brief and aggressive battle with kidney cancer. His life was guided by faith, religion, and spirituality, and by a lifelong curiosity about the divine — expressed not only in words but also in quiet, intentional living.

Read More »

Obituary: John Phillip Toso

Obituary: John Phillip Toso, a longtime Ashland resident and business owner, passed away Dec. 22, 2025. In 1972, Toso started Sappo Hill Soapworks, still manufactured and distributed nationally.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum Camps for Curious Kids Ashland Oregon
Camelot Theatre Aretha Talent Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Crossword: Camelot 2026 #01

This week’s theme: some plays and Spotlights at Camelot Theatre. Solve puzzle in your browser or download and print. Next Friday’s crossword: ExtraORdinary Places #03. Check out the Mini crossword on Tuesdays.

Read More >

Ashland CERT volunteers train on fire extinguisher use at monthly session

About 25 Ashland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers gathered for their monthly training session Wednesday at Fire Station 2 to learn the basics of fire extinguisher use. The training was held as part of CERT’s ongoing preparedness program, which focuses on giving volunteers practical tools to provide safe assistance during emergencies until better equipped responders arrive.

Read More >

Ashland ice rink officially put on ice until next season

Ashland’s ice rink will remain closed this winter after a series of permitting and engineering setbacks forced the city to dismantle the rink. Parks officials told commissioners this week that most approvals are now complete, clearing the way for a reopening next winter.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Ashland Climate Collaborative Sreets for Everyone Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon
City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon

Explore More...

This week's theme: some plays and Spotlights at Camelot Theatre. Solve puzzle in your browser or download and print. Next Friday's crossword: ExtraORdinary Places #03. Check out the Mini crossword on Tuesdays.
Dennis Kendig: Give away tickets to Native individuals if you wish, but don’t make me sit through your self-serving announcements.
Herbert Rothschild: Those who wish to sanitize our history in the name of national pride tend to be the very ones who are perpetrating the present harms. For example, after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Republican legislators moved quickly to suppress once again Black participation in elections.
Ashland will open two severe weather shelters from Thursday, Jan. 15, through Sunday, Jan. 18, as cold temperatures are forecast. The facilities are located at 2200 and 2350 Ashland St., and open daily at 5 p.m.
About 25 Ashland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers gathered for their monthly training session Wednesday at Fire Station 2 to learn the basics of fire extinguisher use. The training was held as part of CERT's ongoing preparedness program, which focuses on giving volunteers practical tools to provide safe assistance during emergencies until better equipped responders arrive.

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.

ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)