Five Questions: Think fast, talk fast, but stay in control

-Jay Furst, January 26, 2014 (Post Bulletin)

John Kruesel seems a lot younger than 66. The Rochester auctioneer, antiques collector, historic preservationist and man-about-town has a million interests and opinions — just ask him — and by appearance as well as manner, he's always thinking outside the box.

He was born and raised in Rochester, fourth-generation Rochester on both sides, he says. He graduated from John Marshall High School and studied at Rochester Community College, then finished his degree at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. After a stint with the family company, Maass Plumbing and Heating, he opened his antiques and related businesses.

John was instrumental in the fight to save the Chateau Theatre, which included getting it listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and if there's a good historic preservation battle brewing, John's ready to mount the barricades. He and his wife, Judy, live on one of his great-grandfather's farms in Olmsted County and have two daughters.

People who know you know you're involved in a lot of different things. What's the main way you put bread on the table?

I pontificate. It doesn't pay a living wage, but I believe in community involvement, and I don't charge for (pontificating or) the fundraising events I do. To answer your question, though, it's auctioneering, appraisals, a variety of things along historical lines.

When you're auctioneering, does your brain know what you're going to say or do you just let it all out?

Here's what my dad, who's 95, said recently — "wouldn't you like to know what's going to come out of your mouth before you say it?" The answer to your question is no, I think fast and talk fast. You have to think beyond what's currently coming out of your mouth, think a few items ahead or a half-hour ahead. But you have to be in control.

You met Elvis in his white-jumpsuit days, long before he was reincarnated locally as Brad Boice . How did that come about?

I met Elvis when he made his comeback in Las Vegas in about 1970 . I was there as a groupie, helping with the sound for a band called Tenth Story Window , which was the opening act. I shook his hand backstage, and when he went out front, people went crazy. Women threw clothing articles up on the stage, writers and Hollywood gurus were sitting down front ... I didn't realize how historically important it was.

If you could wave a wand and rebuild one building that's been knocked down over the years in Rochester, what building would it be?

It would have to be two buildings: the Saint Marys Auditorium and (Mayo's) 1914 Building . No, it would have to be three — Saint Marys Auditorium, the 1914 building and the post office , designed by Harold Crawford . No, no, no, it would have to be the post office.

How would you describe your handshake?

I want my handshake to be engaging, and hopefully, that engagement then allows me to interact with the person, so we get to know each other more. (John has one handshake that involves rapid-fire firm squeezing of a person's hand, but ...)I have two or three of them. It varies with my mood at the time, but each one offers another type of engagement.