Veryl Kruse Andre

Known at different parts of her life as Veryl Ann, Vicki, Veryl, or Andre, Veryl Kruse Andre was born in Minneapolis in 1930 to Walter Kruse and Gloria Hazel (Anderson) Kruse. Veryl was a star student at McKinley Elementary and then Patrick Henry High School, serving as co-valedictorian with two friends and giving a speech entitled, "We Bake Our Cakes." A scholarship opened her path to attend Hamline University. This began a long sojourn in St. Paul and its suburbs until she returned to Minneapolis in her eighties.

Veryl sought to satisfy her endless curiosity about the world and the people in it through lifelong devotion to education and educational institutions. She earned her MSW at the U of M and took a position at Hallie Q. Brown House in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul. From this period she retained throughout her life many friendships and her passion for civil rights and African-American culture. She attended the 1963 March on Washington and found inspiration in the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, jr. Her eventual workplaces included the Twin Cities International Program, and the National Youthworker Education Project and the Program in Human Sexuality, both based at the U of M. She practiced radical acceptance of other people and embraced differences.

Veryl was married in 1951 to Paul Cashman, who predeceased her, as did their son Todd Cashman, her brother, James Kruse, and her committed partner, Knowles Dougherty. Her memory will be celebrated by her children Tim Cashman (Sai), Kia Cashman, Kay Cahill (Nick); grandchildren Joshua, Adam, Mikaela, Fiona, Maggie, Abigail, Nora, and Phoebe; cherished nieces and nephews on both the Kruse and Cashman sides; and many friends from every period of her life going back to grade school.

Things that did not matter to Veryl: what people wore; dogma based on the epistles of Paul; food and drink; luxury; conventions other than grammatical.

Things that did matter to Veryl: correct usage of "lie" vs "lay" and "can" vs "may;" equal rights for women and men and people of all racial backgrounds; proper handwashing; travel as a way to experience the world from the perspective of other people; hard work; chocolate; theater and dance; the command to love one another.

After retirement, Veryl explored the world. Trips to central America, Paraguay, Thailand, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, Turkey, Tanzania and Rwanda enriched her life and charged her continued curiosity. She reserved judgment about what travels might come after death, but with any luck she is undertaking them with her beloved Knowles.

She leaves a legacy of love and encouragement for her family and friends, several thousand Post-It notes with scraps of wisdom and information, and a burgeoning generation of great-grandchildren.

Final disposition at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorials preferred to Planned Parenthood or Minnesota Public Radio.

Friends and family are invited to gather in remembrance and celebration of Veryl's life from 1 p.m. -  4 p.m. on Saturday 5 October at St. Anthony Park United Church of Christ, 2129 Commonwealth Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108.  A memorial service will begin at 2 p.m., followed by music and refreshments. A Zoom link for the service will be available at sapucc.org.