Raymond J. Kraus

Raymond J. Kraus, age 91 of Loose Creek, passed away peacefully January 29, 2013, surrounded by his family at Autumn Meadows Skilled Nursing Facility in Linn.

Raymond was born November 19, 1921, in Jefferson City, a son to the late Joseph and Emily (Hoelscher) Kraus.

Raymond attended school and grew up in Jefferson City. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946 during the WWII conflict.

On June 25, 1946, he was united in marriage to Lucille Schaefer in Loose Creek. She survives at the home.

Raymond was a heavy equipment operator and he owned and operated the Kraus Excavating Company in Jefferson City for 15 years. He made his parents farm on Old St. Louis Road into a subdivision known as Indian Meadows.

After moving to Loose Creek in 1964, he was instrumental in starting Water District #1 for the Loose Creek and Bonnots Mill areas. He was a past president and then its maintenance man. Later he worked for the Special Road District as a grader operator on the surrounding county roads.

Raymond was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Loose Creek and VFW Post #4756.

He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, fishing, camping and traveling the western United States, Canada and Mexico.

In addition to his wife of 66 years, Lucille, he is survived by: three sons, Stanley Kraus of Loose Creek, Charles and his wife Kathy Kraus of Springfield, and James and his wife Cindy Kraus of Wardsville; two daughters, Melba Dudenhoeffer and her husband Francis Jr. of Linn, and Nancy Schaefer and her husband Gene of Loose Creek; one sister, Mary Bollinger and her husband John of Jefferson City; three sister-in-laws, Doris Kraus and Norma Kraus both of Jefferson City and Catherine Kever of Loose Creek; 11 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 4 step grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Raymond was preceded in death by: four brothers, Fr. Robert Kraus, Wilfred, Harry and Cecil Kraus; one sister, Sylvia Stieferman; a daughter-in-law, Sara Kraus; three brother-in-laws, Francis Kever, Edward Schaefer and Clarence Stieferman; and two sister-in-laws, Mary Jane Kraus and Hazel Schaefer.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 1, 2013, at Morton Chapel in Linn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 2, 2013, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Loose Creek with Fr. Don Antweiler as the celebrant. Interment will follow in the Immaculate Conception Parish Cemetery with full military honors.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.