Douglas E Cruse

Douglas E. Cruse of Rockwood, MI., formerly of Waverly, OH., and Lexington, TN. gave up his brave fight with gastric cancer on May 16, 2011. He was born in Winchester, KY. January 15, 1945, the son of the late Clarence W. Cruse and Irene Mastin Cruse. He is survived by his mother,Irene of Waverly, OH., his wife of 45 years, Sharon S.(Coey) Cruse, daughter Dana R.Cruse-Malcomson (Kirk) of Luna Pier, MI., son Douglas W.(Carissa) Cruse of Flat Rock MI., and daughter Shannon A. Cruse of Rockwood, MI. Also surviving are grandchildren Jacob Ratz, Kayla and Isabella Cruse, all of Flat Rock, and Brianna Cruse of Rockwood. Also surviving is brother Ronald L. (Kathy) Cruse of Chillicothe, OH., and sister Sharon L. Wessel of Waverly, OH., his mother-in-law Virginia Coey, brother-in-law David (Cheryl) Coey, sister-in-law Diana (David )Hall, all of Springfield, OH., and sister-in-law Kathleen (Terry) Butcher of West Portsmouth,OH., former son-in-law Mark Ratz of Flat Rock,MI., many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Doug was predeceased by his father,Clarence, and brothers Ralph and Michael, half-brothers Foster, Carroll, and Eugene Crews and grandparents Clarance L.and Mattie (Followell) Crews, and Ben and Clara (Green) Mastin. After attending school in Waverly, OH., he joined the U.S. Army August 7, 1962, serving in Alaska, and Korea, and was honorably discharged July 9, 1965 as Sgt. E-5. He attended Detroit College of Business, in Detroit MI. while working full-time in the auto industry, and also working 2 part time jobs and serving in the National Guard. In 1980 his employer, Ferro Mfg. moved their Detroit plant to Lexington, TN. He was the only employee to transfer to the Lexington plant.He moved dies and presses from Detroit to TN., and was in charge of setting up and resuming production of their seat tract division there. In 1985 he took a job in Toledo, OH. and then back to the Detroit area in 1986, retiring in 2002 as a plant manager with Aetna Industries. Not one to sit idle he continued to work “part-time” ( 40-50 hours per week )in maintenance with Stathakis Systems in Brownstown MI. until he became ill in September 2010. Doug was a muscle car enthusiast, and enjoyed gardening. He loved his family, and his grandchildren were the focal point of his life, and they will all miss him. Per Dougs request, he will be cremated. A memorial service will take place on Saturday May 21 at 12 noon at Trinity Christian Church, 21805 Woodruff Road, Rockwood, MI.,under the direction of pastor Rodney Wade.A military graveside service will be performed by the Wyandotte VFW, post 1136 Honor Guard on June 4, at 2 PM at Michigan Memorial Park in Flat Rock, Mi. Online condolences may be shared below: