Who Was Rev. Kruse?

He was our longest-serving pastor (43 years!). He started serving St. Lucas at the beginning of its second year and really got things rolling.

Samuel A. Kruse (1858 - 1944) was born in Nashville, IL, to immigrants from areas now known as Germany. His father was a German Evangelical pastor who had studied at the educational institution in Marthasville that is now known as Eden Seminary in Webster Groves. After Samuel Kruse’s primary education at a school around Des Peres, MO, he attended Elmhurst College and then followed in his father’s footsteps and studied at Eden Seminary for four years. After his ordination in 1880, he was assigned to pastor a frontier community in southeastern Nebraska. During those two years, he made a trip home to marry Amalia Mueller, the daughter of Rev. Andreas Mueller, the pastor of Carondelet Church in South St. Louis. Rev. Kruse was happy to accept the call to St. Lucas in 1882, and the young couple returned to an area closer to their families.

They lived off-site for the first year until a parsonage was built in 1883. The pastor and his wife started a family and, eventually, raised six children in the parsonage.

In 1890 St. Lucas built a schoolhouse, and Rev. Kruse was the teacher at the German school, teaching reading, writing, arithmetic, religion and singing five days a week.

In addition to leading worship, pastoring his congregation, and teaching school, Rev. Kruse started up several organizations and many traditions at St. Lucas in those early years. He started the Ladies Aid Society, the Young People’s League, the Mutual Aid Society, and the church choir that he directed.

In HISTORY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, Volume II, published in 1911, it states, “This church was founded in 1880 and when Mr. Kruse took charge there was a membership of thirty-six persons upon the books. The rolls now show one hundred and thirty members, and the church has grown until it has the reputation of being one of the most progressive religious organizations in St. Louis County”.

Upon the occasion of his 40th anniversary celebration at St. Lucas in 1922, it was reported in the Watchman-Advocate newspaper that he had baptized more than 1,100 infants, confirmed more than 700 children, married more than 600 couples, and laid to rest more than 600 individuals. The family membership had grown from 35 to 150. The “original little frame building has been replaced by a stone temple of rock…; a well-equipped school and a roomy parsonage have been added while the weed patch of 1882 has been converted into beautiful park and exceptionally well-tended cemetery”.

An article in the October 5, 1930, St. Louis Globe-Democrat Magazine, states, “If ever there was a cleric whose heart and soul was wrapped up in his work, it is Pastor Kruse. He has enjoyed every hour of it… There is a tremendous amount of things this man has been able to do while attending to the needs of St. Lucas’ congregation.”

In the 43 years that Rev. Kruse served at St. Lucas, he also served on numerous boards of church-related institutions and organizations, particularly the Emmaus Homes and Eden Seminary. He regularly wrote articles in both German and English for local publications and those of the Synod and lectured at the Seminary and at conferences.

Rev. Kruse retired July 26, 1925, for health reasons. Later, treatment for his illness was discovered and his health improved. He remained active at St. Lucas and continued his leadership on the Board of Emmaus Homes. He died December 15, 1944.

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Council Corner - June 22 Meeting Update

By Denee Bowers • June 25, 2026

Council Corner: Updates from the Regular Church Council Meeting – June 22, 2026 Informational Items: Update from Finance Ministry All committees and ministries with budget lines will receive their annual Budget Letter and Request form this week. They are due by July 31st . The offerings are down significantly prompting Financial Secretary Ken Fey to further examine, with congregational input, the reasons – more information to follow. Update from Physical Facilities Ministry Mudjacking work previously performed on the Preschool entrance sidewalks did not fully resolve the problem and will be addressed by the contractor. Work on the breaker boxes is proceeding but with some delays due to parts – the contractor is working with church and preschool schedules. Fall athletic field contract renewing and negotiating is in progress. Lamour to replace heating element in kitchen dishwasher once parts are available; Council requested a better understanding of cost savings on external contractors thanks to Lamour. Miscellaneous Updates Community Meal Grant submitted with notification expected by July 31 st ; we are now an established vendor with the State, should future grant opportunities arise. Kicked-off planning for September 13 th Celebration Sunday; anyone interested in assisting or volunteering, please contact Councilmember Melinda Borman. Looking Ahead – Items Upcoming in Next 1-2 Months Preparing for 2027 Budget cycle Form nominating committee for various committee/ministry positions. Prepare for possible renewal of Sexton’s house lease. Employee Manual update. Personnel working on formalizing a process for annual goal setting & performance reviews for employees. Discussion on possible donor recognition area. Upcoming Events – In an effort to better prepare for the various events and events within events, Council members use a more detailed calendar . We hope this tool also helps you better plan for Church activities. Looking Ahead – Possible Items for Council Conversation – August 16th Mayberry Bequest response discussion Church financial update Opportunities for St. Lucas

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