Dave accepted Christ as his personal Savior at a young age and was baptized at Big Creek. He graduated from Houston High School in 1970, and in 1985 he received his Master's Degree in Ag Education from the University of Missouri. In 1974 Dave was united in marriage to Carmen Truitt, and to this union two children were born. In 1995 Dave married Shelly Combs and became a father again.

Dave worked various jobs throughout his life including, teaching Ag at Cabool and Willow Springs Schools, 18 years with the City of St. Louis Health Department as a Grade A Dairy Barn Inspector, he was a real estate agent, and owner of D&D Diesel Repair Shop. After retiring in 1998 he worked on the family dairy farm outside of Willow Springs.

Dave became a chaplain for Texas County Memorial Hospital, which allowed him to share his love for God with many people. Helping family, friends, and even strangers was what he did on a daily basis. Sharing Jesus with everyone he talked to and spending time with his family and friends were his greatest joys in life.

Dave now joins in Heaven, his parents, David and Maxine Kruse; father-in-law, Herman Aldridge; grandparents, Clyde and Opal Hale; uncle, Delmar Surby; aunts, Edith Bowen and Gail Brown; and best friend, Ted Wagner.

Those waiting to join him in Heaven are his loving wife. Shelly of the home; daughter, Sheila Davis and granddaughter, Brittany; son, Adam Kruse and wife, Aubree and children, Avery, Arden and Anderson all of Springfield; daughter, Andrea Kruse and granddaughter, Lyndee, of Cabool; adopted son, Mackenzie Wagner and wife, Sara and children, William and Kyndall of Mtn. View; brother, Gary Kruse of Elk Creek; sister, Elaine Burns and husband, John of Rogersville; brother-in-law, Bill Combs of Bonne Terre; mother-in-law, Carol Aldridge of Cabool; aunt, Ruby Surby of Kansas City; his Set Free Ministries Church Family and Pray-Go Bible Study Group and a host of other relatives and friends.