The Will to Hunt

Last week a friend and former colleague passed away. Kent Kruse was 41 years old and passed after suffering a heart attack while hunting on Wednesday of last week. Kent leaves behind his wife of 15 years and his two young children. What’s more, he leaves behind countless lives that he touched in his short 41 years.

Post-humous everyone is a saint. No one will admit it but no matter how mediocre someone is during their life people remember them fondly and speak of them as if they were something more after they pass. What that does though, is it makes it hard to convey true greatness when someone that desserves to be remembered as great passes. Kent is one of those people that truly desserves to be remembered that way. Unfortunately I only knew Kent for a few years. When I worked at Owens & Minor I’d see him at least once a week and we’d talk about our kids and hunting, like there is anything else to talk about, right? My Dad works at Owens & Minor as well and the three of us would often go to a local barbecue joint, Carter’s Pig Pen, for lunch. Again the conversations were always filled with talk of family and hunting. Kent was also one of the first people to slap a The Will to Hunt decal on his truck and was always fascinated with my progress with this website. He even wrote a post for me a while back and once again, it’s about two of his favorite things family and hunting. You can read that post here, Don’t Forget the Fun in Hunting.

To be pretty personal and honest, I’ve been struggling with this the last few days. Thinking of how unfair life is that someone like Kent can be taken from us so young. I think of his family, his kids, having to grow old without him. No matter your religion or absence there of we can agree that life isn’t fair. Many folks will tell you, “It’s all in God’s plan”. This is what well meaning people tell you when they aren’t sure what they should say. The fact of the matter is, death and disease are simply a side effect of biology. A tragic side effect but it’s hardly God’s plan. What you can do is decide how you let those unfortunate factors of human biology effect you. That’s the challenge, using your experience with that person to better yourself and learn something.

What I learned from Kent is to focus on family and enjoy the time with them especially if it can be done outdoors whether hunting or coaching sports. I also learned that a positive attitude and a smile can go a long way. No matter the kind of day you were having you couldn’t walk up and shake Kent’s hand without smiling. You knew he was going to be smiling and have a joke or something silly to say. He’d also ask you how you were doing or if you’d been hunting and actually listen to your answer instead of just exchanging pleasantries as many do in an office.

If you take anything away from this post, take this. Hug your spouse, get involved with your kids and do your best not to take life for granted. I’m proud that I got to know Kent although extremely saddened at his passing. I can’t introduce you all to him but the least I can do is help pass on a few of his ideals that I won’t soon forget. If you didn’t click the link above please read the post he did for me a while back in his honor: Don’t Forget the Fun in Hunting