Missing you William Fred Kruse
AKA he’d call himself “The old Goat”

The world is too quiet without your wisecracks.
You’d always say “There’s more Bulls than bullshit”.
Your knowledge was incessant......I sure miss you William Fred Kruse

Four years have passed since you left us. You wouldn't believe how crazy this world has become and the news we watch; if we choose to.I know how disgusted you'd be,and say enough is enough. I live my life simple everyday like you spoke of.Enough for me and my Family. I miss you so much....you sure knew how to make me Laugh❤️

I believe Bill said 52 Dodge was on Maui???
His BMW was sold to a fellow in Hesperia, Randy? He owned a upholstery shop.
He was going to restore it. One of these days I will swing bye and see if he's finished with. Bill LOVED that motorcycle. He had it shipped to San Diego area. We drove down with Trailer to bring it home to Hesperia, but it wouldn't fit, and my Jeep couldn't accommodate any Larger trailer, so we gassed it up and hit the 15 freeway.
People were taking pictures of Bill from their car's. It was quite an adventure again.
We made it to Murrieta where my Daughter Jasmine lives,spent the night, and continued to Hesperia the next day.

You are TRUELY missed "WILLIAM FRED KRUSE".
You had such a profound impact on my spirit. I've never met such an adventurous soul. May you be in charge of the rope tricks with your Angelic friends.
Miss you

Bill , I think of you often and want you to know what a special place you hold in my heart . It was special being your friend.

My friendship with Bill goes back to 1960 when we met in San Francisco. Bill was a wonderful friend and we shared many good times. As I read the prior tributes to Bill I see many who felt as I did that Bill was a dear friend who will always be remembered I also had exciting times riding on the back of Bill's motorcycle as he showed me San Francisco. He always talked of the many friends he met on his journeys. He truly was an inspiration of a life well lived.
Bill you will always be remembered . Aloha and much love my friend .

Bill this world is too quiet with you gone.The phone calls were the best when you would call me Judith Burke Kibbey where R U One of your favorite sayings was there's more bullshit than Bull's !!!
RIP my dear friend
I miss your Majestic personality

Bill is still in our thoughts frequently; we remember him for his kindness, his friendship and most of all for his warm and gentle nature. His long telephone visits gave us much pleasure. Of course, Bill's dedication to maintaining "our" BMW motorcycle was a tribute to our friendship! Bob and Nancy Smith

HAPPY BIRTHDAY my BEST FRIEND ever I MISS YOU ....... You taught me so much about Life. A Beautiful butterfly, blue sky, birds chirping, the warmth of the Sunshine. You are still with us all. William Fred Kruse jr. I would say to you on the phone when I called you......and you would reply "Oh, Princess Judith Ann Kibbey......where are you?
Rest in Peace my second Father I called you and I was the Daughter you never had you would say.
"Sober again"....... you would reply when you answered the phone
The world is FULL of God's BEAUTY

My connection with Bill goes back to 2003 while I was cruising in the South Pacific. While visiting Rarotonga I met Don Silk boat builder, sailor, ship captain and Port Captain of R Harbor and met Bill Kruse for the first time. I soon discovered that Bill was the current owner of the Patsy Jean built by Don Silk. What a coincidence!

Bill and I soon became fast friends with common interest in sailboats, motorcycles and fighting with the Alawai Harbor management. Over the years I spent a lot of time visiting on Bill's boat helping him with the engine or with his motorcycle and talking sea stories. When my wife and I wrote a book about our sailing adventures Bill bought more books than anybody, if you were on his mailing list you probably got one for Christmas.

Exciting times riding on the back of Bill's motorcycle through Honolulu traffic when he could really only see out of one eye. Or taking the Patsy Jean around the outer channel marker for the last time with only one cylinder running just to prove to the Harbormaster we could do it. Finally the engine stopped short but with Bill's steady hand on the helm we had just enough momentum to glide the last 200 feet gently back into her slip.

In all Bill was a great sailor and a hell of a nice man. Always treated me like family, maybe like the son never had. We miss him.

Bill was a member of the Hawaii Post Polio Network and attended many meetings on his motorcycle. He was a great guy and neat to be around, especially when he recalled stories of his sailing days. We lost track of him and often wondered where he had sailed off to and now we know. He will always be remembered. Rest in Peace Bill. Aloha

Sharing stories with Bill about the Marqeusas was always an experiment in who did we know in common from his voyages and our voyages many years later. Turns out....we did know some of the same people!

Bill often brought friends and relatives to the Ala Wai fuel dock, aka Poor Boyz Yacht Club, for lunch and would slap down his credit card as he walked in to make sure all was taken care of before anyone started ordering lunch! Several times a week Bill would show up with a cake or pie for all of us at the fuel dock. His ulterior motive was to be able to have a piece of that pie after his lunch!

Bill was a friend of everyone in the Ala Wai Boat Harbor and we all looked after him. If he didn't show up for a few days we went knocking on his boat and he would assure us he was fine....and then show up the next day for lunch.....with a new friend.

Nana Bill...see you next time we're in the Marquesas. 

Carey, Wally, Audrey, Albert, Lora, Sarah, Sara and Clara
The Poor Boyz Yacht Club crew

Having a boat in the Ali Wai Harbor in Hawaii, I met Bill about 1980 and we became friends. In the 1990's I sold Bill my pride, a BMW motorcycle. Shortly thereafter, he rode the bike around Europe for four months and then brought it back to Hawaii. Several years later, he took the bike back to Europe for another several months of riding, then brought it back to hawaii again. Later, he attached a sidecar, permitting use of the machine by enabling riding with his unfortunate medical condition. Selling his beloved boat, he moved to California in 2015, bring along the bike. Shortly after he sold the machine, having almost 300,000 miles on it. I last saw Bill last year in Victorville. My wife Nancy and I had lunch with him. We enjoyed many phone conversations over the years, retelling sailing and bike stories. Bill was a wonderful man and a good friend. Over the years, when in the islands, Nancy and I would always enjoy visiting with Bill and usually have lunch. Many times we had sweet and sour soup at his favorite Chinese Restaurant. He will be missed! Bob and Nancy Smith, Las Vegas, Nv.

Bill was a genuine, kind-hearted soul who I was fortunate to get to know over the last few years of his storied life. I remember fondly how he lit up whenever we talked about traveling; him riding around in his old BMW motorcycle; and his usual reminder to "have fun while you're young"...

You are greatly missed you "old goat". Love and aloha on your next adventure.

I first met Bill in 2010 when I was a volunteer for the Friendly Neighbors' Program in Waikiki and over the years, he became ohana.

My memories include: visiting and hanging out on the back of the boat, making shopping trips to Don Quijote, lunch dates to Bale for his favorite tuna sandwich (after the harbor grocery that had his favorite beef stew closed down - much to his disdain), sunset dinners at the Barefoot Beach Cafe in Waikiki, listening to and being inspired by his many travel stories, humbly turning down rides in the sidecar, helping him joyfully transition back to the boat after being land-locked for a few months, looking through old photo albums of his adventures, and feeling heartbroken (yet thankful that he was going to be taken care of) when he left the island for good.

Bill was generous, inspiring and so kind-hearted. Whenever we connected, he always asked about my family and genuinely cared how they were doing. He holds a special place in my heart and will be greatly missed.

*A hui hou Bill~

Aloha,
Angie

Bill was a dear family friend. He spent many a holiday dinner at our home in Honolulu where he would regale us all with his stories and his rope tricks. 

The man was generous to a fault. He was a very giving individual.

He touched our lives in a very special way and will be forever in our hearts.

Bill was a very special person. When I was a teenager he used to visit my mom and dad (Herman & Mildred Kruse) in Sacramento often and they enjoyed his visits. Much later I was able to visit "the cousin that lived on a boat in Hawaii" with my husband, children and grandchildren. He entertained us with his stories and rope tying skills. From then on we corresponded via e-mail and looked forward to our next visit. My last visit with Bill was in Hesperia, California and I found him very happy with the desert quietness. I was able to share pictures of the Kruse Reunion in Thief River Falls with him. I loved him because he was my cousin and I knew he loved us too.

"B" never forgot to call us, on a regular basis. He sent gifts. He sent love. He will be so very missed by my wife and me. We will so miss seeing "B" on the phone.  We know he's back on his boat and his motorcycle, and living it up again.  He always treated my mom and dad, Bob and Lois Thompson, like they were so special. I didn't know, until i grew up, that he was my cousin, not my uncle. Regardless, he was my "B", and I loved him deeply.

Fair winds and safe harbors from here on. 
Thanks for sharing some of your journey with the Grimstrups.