Joan was born Aug. 21, 1948, in Seward, to Milton and Mary Ann Deichmann Kruse.
From an early age she showed lots of determination, had a keen eye for color and design and a desire to see what was around the corner. Joan graduated from Seward High School in 1966 and set sail for a life of adventure that developed through her wonderful experiences in Seward, including art, music, 4-H and volunteerism.
She graduated from Colorado Women’s College (CWC) in Denver, Colorado, while supplementing her education in Interior Design at the University of Kansas. Her professional career started in Denver in Interior Design and textile retailing at Neusteters Department Store. Shortly thereafter, Joan was promoted and transferred to San Antonio, Texas, to become Manager of Fabrics Retailing over two Frost Bros. department stores. In her position, she loved providing elegant fabrics, particularly for the flowing gowns worn in the annual Fiesta Celebrations for The Order of the Alamo.
Her experiences with Frost Bros. led her to develop and open her own business in Alamo Heights, San Antonio. In 1976, Joan opened the successful “bric brac ‘n Brass” (bb&B). bb&B was pre-Martha Stewart, but had a theme of rustic but elegant and sophisticated: retail gifts, artist made jewelry, floral, international gourmet foods, books, greeting cards, home accessories, and interior design store. bb&B gave Joan a marketplace to connect with artisans throughout the world and beautifully market their artistry to very appreciative shoppers. She loved buying trips to San Francisco, Rhinebeck, New York, and Dallas, including American Craft Council events.
In 1983, she married the love of her life, Hugh Rogers, and sold bb&B. They started a life together in London (St. John’s Wood), England, and had many exciting explorations throughout Europe, including antiques, interior design, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, history, and Formula 1 Grands Prix.
In 1987, Joan and Hugh moved back to the states and chose to live in Seattle, Washington. While neither had lived in Seattle previously, Joan created a new residential and commercial Interior Design adventure, Joan Kruse Rogers Designs, in Madison Park Village, Seattle. JKR Designs beautified Seattle homes and businesses for 34 years. Joan was highlighted in numerous trade publications and was known as “The Color Lady.”
In 2021, Joan and Hugh retired to their second home in La Jolla, California. They loved walking the beach daily, exploring, and enjoying the sunshine together.
Joan’s life was filled with lifelong friendships from Seward, her CWC Alumni family and reunions, San Antonio, London, Seattle, La Jolla, and wonderful friends from around the globe. She was a proud ambassador for her beloved home state of Nebraska.
Her early volunteerism started in Seward and spanned throughout her life. Joan loved her association with SAMA and the McNay Art Museums in San Antonio, her Jr. League affiliation in London and developing the Annual Christmas Bazaar, volunteering at the Royal Academy of Art, the Jr. League of Seattle, and being a member of the first Fred Hutchinson Cancer Guild in Seattle.
All of 2024 was a difficult year, following her diagnosis with the incurable Acute Myeloid Leukemia with a TP53 mutation. Hugh and her friends all supported her in her valiant quest to stay positive as she completed her Nebraska home remodel and other projects. She passed on Nov. 27, 2024, in La Jolla.
Joan looked forward to the positive impact her Endowment, which benefits the Seward Wellness Center, will have on the Seward Community, Joan’s original home, for decades to come.
Joan loved life, its challenges, adventures, unknowns, and all things beautiful, simple to complex.
Hugh was extremely proud of and deeply loved his JK and Honey Lamb.
Survivors: include J. Erik Rogers (stepson), Carrie, Haley, Rylie, and Coleman (McKinney, Texas); cousins and a host of dear friends. She was preceded in death by Milton and Mary Ann Deichmann Kruse
A special thank you to Kerwin and Tiffany Roth (Seward), Jane and Steve Schnittker, (Seward), and Stephanie and Winifred Trask (Philip, South Dakota).
Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 20, from 1 – 7 p.m. at Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home in Seward with family receiving friends from 5 – 7 p.m. A memorial service will be Friday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. A private family inurnment is planned. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Seward Wellness Center.
Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
