Adell Krul

Adell Lucille Krul was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother, willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary for the sake of her loved ones. She was also a good friend, with a listening ear and a ready shoulder. She valued honesty and cared enough to tell people the truth about what she was thinking and feeling. She understood hardship and developed compassion for others through her own difficulties.

Born in Grand Rapids on April 17, 1926, Adell was the first and only child of Lute and Winnie (Tansey) Rathbun. Times were tough while Adell was growing up. As a young girl in the 1930s, she learned how to make do with what she had as the nation endured the economic trauma of the Great Depression. She experienced the personal tragedy of her parents divorce, as well. Adell attended a one-room schoolhouse on the west side of Grand Rapids. Her family lived near the plaster mines southwest of town. They moved often, but Adell maintained several friendships from the plaster mine neighborhood for the rest of her life.

Adell's mother met and married a man named George Bowman. He was very kind to Adell and treated her as his own daughter. Near the end of the decade with war looming in Europe, Adell became a big sister. She was twelve when her baby brother George was born, and two years later her sister Jan arrived. Adell attended Union High School until she finished the tenth grade. She loved the music of the era and retained her fondness for The Ink Spots for the rest of her life.

When Adell was fifteen years old, she heard the horrific news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She listened with worry and sadness to the developments of World War II, and rejoiced with the rest of the world when the conflict finally ended in August of 1945. At that time her family lived across the alley from the Krul family. Their son George "Bud" was in the service during the war and was finally able to return home in 1946. One Saturday, Bud and Adell happened to be in the alley at the same time and greeted one another. It was virtually love at first sight. They were engaged the following Tuesday and married six weeks later.

Their home was soon filled with the cries and laughter of their first child, Kathleen, born the following year. Over the next fifteen years, Adell and Bud had five more children. Adell allowed pets to add to the activity of the bustling household, knowing that her children would learn valuable lessons from the experience even though she herself was not thrilled to have animals underfoot. She always put her family first and wanted what was best for them. She served in community organizations that were influential in her children's lives such as the PTO, the Cub Scouts, and Campfire Girls. The family loved spending time together, particularly during their camping trips in their trailer at Hardy Dam. Adell and Bud shared much joy as well as tragedy, watching with pride as their sons and daughters matured. Together they found a way to bear the loss of their young son Kevin in 1968.

Adell tried her hand at a few different jobs. She waitressed for a while and also worked at Rose Patch and Label Co. Bud taught her how to drive, and after seven attempts Adell finally passed the written drivers' test. Much to everyone's surprise and amusement, Adell was later employed as a school bus driver for Grand Rapids Public Schools.

The Kruls moved a couple of times because of Bud's employment. In 1979, the family moved to Ft. Pierce, Florida, and then to Mansfield, Texas. Later they were able to return to Grand Rapids. When the children were grown, Adell traveled across the country with Bud in his semi. Through forty-seven years and countless life changes, Bud and Adell kept their vows to stay together for better or worse until Bud's passing. Bud teased that they stayed married for such a long time because he was away from home so often for work, but their lasting commitment and love for each other was evident to all. Adell treasured the memory of that day in the alley when she first met Bud.

Adell had varied interests and hobbies. She loved country/western music, especially Eddie Arnold. She looked forward to watching figure skating during the Winter Olympics and was always ready for a game of cards. She loved to cook, but also enjoyed eating out at new restaurants. She had an amazing collection of blown glass pieces, several hundred, in fact, that she took great pleasure in. Nothing, however, could compare to the joy she received from her family. She loved being with her grandchildren, no matter where they were or what they were doing. She was also particularly fond of her great nephews and great niece, Chad, Cara, and Collin Van Dam. She loved them as though they were her own children and cherished every moment with them. She wished them all the happiness in the world.

Adell died on Monday, November 1, 2004. Her husband Bud, son Kevin, grandson Shane, and brother George Bowman preceded her in death. Adell's family includes her children, Kathleen (Paul) Taylor of Mansfield, Texas, Garrit (Diane) Krul of Comstock Park, Cameron Krul (Gerri) of Grand Rapids, Gail Krul, also of Grand Rapids, and George (Linda) Krul of Grand Prairie, Texas; grandchildren, Garrit, Carrie, Kathryn, Jason, Michele, Wendy, Gail Ann, Joey, Kain, Erica, and Spencer; four great grandchildren; her sister, Jan (Al) Vis of Grand Rapids; sister-in-law Carol (George) Bunn of Howard City; several nephews, nieces, great nephews, and a great niece; and her aunt, Betty Lipski of Grand Rapids.

Friends may spend time with Adell's family at the Van't Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard Street NW, on Wednesday, November 3, from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Chapel on Thursday, November 4, at 2 p.m., with Pastors Bruce Wilson and Richard Jones of Plainfield Christian Church officiating. Interment will be in Fairplains Cemetery. Please visit Adell's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to Hospice of West Michigan.