Roland John Kruis

Roland John Kruis
Long-Time Norman Merchant and Community Servant Leader
April 15, 1924 – March 18, 2018

Roland was born to Dutch immigrants John and Cora Kruis in Sheboygan, Wisconsin just years before the beginning of the Great Depression. The oldest of seven children, his childhood was marked by the challenges of economic hardship and interspersed with fond memories of growing up on Lake Michigan with his friends and siblings. Still living are two of his sisters and brothers-in-law, Audrey (Roger) Otten of Sheboygan, and Harriet (Jerry) Farwell of Stevensville, Michigan, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Brothers Alan and Melvin, sisters Geneva and Caroline, and his parents have preceded him in death.

Soon after graduating from high school in Sheboygan, he enlisted for military service and was stationed in Norman, Oklahoma. A beautiful girl working at the commissary captured his heart, and after dating three weeks he married Eva Jo Hutchins, his life partner for nearly 75 years. Up to his final days, he told her every day that she was beautiful. He was a devoted son-in-law to Florence Hutchins who baked him a birthday cake on his first date with Jo! Along with Jo, he is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law, Elaine (John) Henson and Donna (Bill) Hayes of Norman, and Cindy (Michael) Aldinger of Sacramento, California; six grandchildren and spouses, Billy (Summer) Hayes, Christopher Hayes, Teresa (Mike) Schuster, David (Penny) Henson, Timothy (Rebecca) Aldinger and Nathan (Sara) Aldinger; and great grandchildren Alexander Hayes; Parker and Connor Schuster; Marcus and Seth Henson; Josh Pebley; Amber Roberts; Eloise and Ian Aldinger; and Benjamin, Samuel and Owen Aldinger.

After an honorable discharge from the army just before WWII ended, Roland attended the University of Oklahoma while working numerous jobs to care for his growing family. Initially seeking to work in the medical field, he switched to business which set him on his lifetime career. From door-to-door sales to department store manager to managing several shoe stores, in the late 1960s he opened Roland’s The Wooden Shoe, named after the shoes his mother wore on the boat when she immigrated to America at three years old. It was at the Wooden Shoe that Roland was trained to fill prescriptions for corrective footwear, and he became known as the children’s shoe man. He was like the Mister Rogers of shoe land, and for decades generations of children, parents and grandchildren would recall getting their first pairs of shoes from Roland.

Years later he and Jo expanded by adding Jo’s Garden of Shoes which they managed together until the late 1980s. Soon thereafter Roland worked for two decades for daughter Donna at her boutique Steppin’ Out, where he dyed shoes for numerous brides, prom attendees and pageant queens. An artist at his craft, Roland’s motto was “I’ll dye for you.” In the final weeks of his life, one of his nurses recalled that he had prepared her and all her bridesmaids’ wedding shoes. He also offered his love for shoes as an educational venue at schools and women’s clubs with a presentation called Shoes Through the Ages, featuring a suitcase full of antique footwear.

Roland loved to serve. The name Roland means known throughout the land, and this is truly reflected in how his daughters remember him as they were growing up. Telling merchants and bankers, “I’m Roland Kruis’s daughter,” opened many doors for them! Still in his twenties, he became a Charter Member of the Cleveland County Board of Health and served for fifty years. From the Norman Transcript January 19, 1998, the Board of Health Executive Director said, “Roland is one of the most dedicated and responsible people I have ever known. He is always willing to fight for what he believes in and is willing to spend whatever time it takes to get the job done.”

Roland was a Charter Board Member of the John Adams PTA and served for a time as President of the Norman Parent Teachers Council. He also served many years in leadership with the local chapter of Civitan International, a service club particularly known for supporting individuals with special developmental disabilities.

Deeply dedicated to his Christian faith, Roland served as a Sunday School teacher in a number of Baptist churches, starting with teenage boys and going all the way to senior adults which he taught for many years at his beloved Bethel Baptist Church where he was ordained as a Deacon in 1983. A wonderful baby whisperer, he also helped care for the young children of participants in Bethel’s English as Second Language program, as well as Vacation Bible School, when his daughter Elaine was Director of Children’s Ministries.

For many years Roland and Jo sang in the church choir, and we are sure there is a new baritone singing in the heavenly choir now. Famous for his flamboyant ties created by daughter Donna, several will be on display at his memorial service! Roland’s family welcomes friends and family to come celebrate his life on Saturday, March 24, at 2:00 at Bethel Baptist Church, 1717 W. Lindsey Street in Norman. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Children’s Ministries at Bethel.