Kruse learned Festmaster honor in peculiar way

Given the honorary feather back in April

They had to keep the secret for about six months, but now Joe and Barb Kruse are out in the open and leading the Oktoberfest royal family for 2016.

Joe Kruse, a Mayo Health System administrator, was introduced publicly as the new Festmaster on Friday night.

He learned about the honor back in April, when past Festmaster Ed Przytarski paid him an unexpected visit.

“He came into the door in an Xcel lineman outfit and said there was trouble with the natural gas,” Joe Kruse said, “and they were going ot have to shut it down and show us something.”

Oh, the old “trouble with the natural gas” trick.

“We followed him out to the side yard by our home and by our garden was a feather,” Joe Kruse said.

It was a feather worn in the hat of the Festmaster. 

The Kruses will lead the fest royal family during several public appearances the rest of this week, and will represent La Crosse at out-of-town festivals through September of next year.