Kruses Honored As Outstanding Rotarians

Seward Rotarians Jon and Bonnie Kruse are the 2021 recipients of the Charles W. Cadwalladar Award for their “Lifetime of Service”.

 

Jon, who joined Seward Rotary in 1983, and Bonnie, who joined in 2001, were honored at the 2021 Rotary District 5650 Annual Conference in Omaha on Saturday, July 24^th, 2021. Presented in honor of Charles N. Cadwallader, who served as President of Lincoln Rotary Club #14, District Governor, a Director of Rotary International, and sponsored eleven Rotary clubs in the District, the Cadwallader Award is presented to a District 5650 Rotarian who has made a monumental contribution in one or all of the Avenues of Rotary Service: Community Service, International Service, Vocational Service, Club Service and Youth Service. It is considered one of the highest awards of District  5650.  The Kruses join the late Wayne Tanderup as members of Seward Rotary Club who have received the award.  Fitting the distinction of this honor, a large delegation of neighbors, Seward Rotarians and spouses, and family attended the awards dinner to support the Kruses. 

 

Jon retired after working 41 years as Agronomy Department Manager for United Farmers Cooperative. Both Jon and Bonnie work with folks with developmental disabilities.Jon is a driver for the Seward County Public Transit and volunteers to provide transportation for Veterans. Jon and Bonnie are members of St. John Lutheran Church. They spend the winters in Freeport Grand Bahama and are both active in the Rotary Club of Port Lucaya. After Hurricane Dorian Jon and Bonnie worked in collaboration with the Rotary Club Lucaya on a successful $89,280 Rotary Global Grant, “The Rand Memorial Hospital Initiative “ providing hospital beds and equipment for the Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama. In addition, Jon and Bonnie also provided a matching grant incentive for the Seward Rotary Club contribution to the GBI RX Rotary Club of Miami Foundation project to provide additional equipment for the Rand Hospital. Both projects were accomplished during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Jon is a past President and past multi-term Treasurer of Seward Rotary Club. Jon is currently the Club Foundation Chair and Bonnie is the Club Foundation Secretary. Bonnie worked closely with Rotary Club Lucaya President Jaims Carey on the application for the Seward/RCL Global Grant Rand Memorial Hospital Initiative. Jon and Bonnie work with the Stuff the Cruiser project and fundraising. Jon works with fellow club members at the City of Seward Recycling Center and have often represented the Seward Rotary Club at the State Keep Nebraska Beautiful Conference.

 

Jon served as the Chairman of the Nebraska Agri-Business Association and was active in leading legislative teams meeting with Congressmen, Senators, and regulatory agencies. He received the Monsanto Most Valued Professional Award and served on the Seward County Extension Board. He is a past member of the University of Nebraska Agronomy Department Advisory Board. As members of the Seward County Groundwater Guardian Team, Jon and Bonnie worked with the Seward County Commissioners, the Seward City Council, and TransCanada to identify and treat the City of Seward Well-Head Protection Area as a High Consequence Area. Jon and Bonnie are members of the Nebraska Farmer’s Union.

 

Jon and Bonnie work with folks with developmental disabilities and are both members of the Seward County Arc. They are both members of the Seward County League of Women Voters, and are lifetime members of the St. John Lutheran Church with Jon serving 30 years on the Worship Board. Jon and Bonnie are lifetime members of the Seward County Historical Society serving as docents and Jon serving as Farm Manager. Jon and Bonnie both worked with the Seward Sesquicentennial Committee, the Seward Arts

Council, and the Rotary Club of Juneau Alaska to implement and complete the Seward Statue Plaza Project located on the Northeast Quadrant of the Seward County Courthouse.

Bonnie is a Past State President and Junior Director of the GFWC Nebraska Federation of Women’s Clubs. She has served on the General Federation of Women’s Clubs International Board of Directors as a member of the Resolutions Committee, Community Improvement Program Committee, and as a member of the International Affairs Committee. Bonnie is currently serving as GFWC Nebraska District IV President.

 

Jon and Bonnie have served as a host family for students from Japan, The Netherlands, Bolivia, Germany, and Hungary. They have supported the HOBY program, the GFWC NFWC Sophomore Pilgrimage Program and the Seward High School Quiz Bowl program. They drafted the District grants for the St. John Community Playground and the Armory Park Playground and participated in the fundraising for both projects.

 

When in Freeport Grand Bahama Jon and Bonnie attend the meetings and activities of the Rotary Club Lucaya and when they are home in Nebraska they zoom into the weekly

meetings. After Hurricane Dorian Jon and Bonnie worked in collaboration with the Rotary Club Lucaya on a successful Global Grant “The Rand Memorial Hospital Initiative” providing hospital beds and equipment for the Rand Hospital on Grand Bahama. Jon participates in the Rotary Club Lucaya annual golf tournament that raises thousands of dollars for youth scholarships.  Bonnie teaches Sunday school at Our Savior Lutheran Church on Grand Bahama and has served several years on the Philanthropic Committee of the Grand Bahama American Women’s Club supporting youth scholarships and programs on the island. Bonnie also volunteers for the W.A.N.D.S. program which provides sight and hearing test screening of students in every school on the island.  Jon and Bonnie attended the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta and the 2020 virtual  Hawaiian Rotary Convention. Bonnie participates in the Rotary DISK Network Group.

 

Jon served as District Group Study Exchange Program Chairman for many years and served as Team Leader to South Korea. Jon has served as an Assistant District Governor. Jon and Bonnie are both Paul Harris Fellows. In addition Jon and Bonnie are Bequest Society Members. Jon and Bonnie enjoy attending District 5650 club socials and have reached out to several area clubs sharing the significance of District and Global grants.