KAUS, John P. 1929-2017

KAUS, HENZE

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 5/21/2017 at 13:28:16

US VETERAN

January 30, 1929 - February 22, 2017

John "Jack" P. Kaus, 88, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, died in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 22nd, at Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, of natural causes.

He was born at home on January 30, 1929, in Chapin, Iowa, son of Karl and Edna Kaus. He married Laura Henze on April 14th, 1956 at Salem Lutheran Church in Parkersburg. When Jack was a young boy in grade school, he had a pet bulldog. The dog would walk with him to school every day, wait for him outside of the schoolhouse until the day was over, and walk home with him. He fondly remembered the times he would take his dog down the slide at the playground. While in high school, Jack worked for his father at a lumberyard. He would later manage a lumberyard in Spring Valley, Minnesota.

Jack graduated from Ackley High School in 1946, received a BA from Iowa State Teachers College in 1961, and a master's degree from Michigan State University in 1970. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-1954 during the Korean War and played football for the 20th Air Force Jets.

He taught driver's education at Waterloo West High for 30 years and retired in 1991 as the Program Director for the entire Waterloo Community School District.

Jack was a member of Trinity Bible Church in Cedar Falls, the Hudson Lion's Club, and served on the board at Public Employee's Credit Union for 32 years.

Jack and Laura had three sons: Russell (1957), Ron (1959), and James (1964). They raised their family in Waterloo, on Barton Street, until 1976, when they moved to a home in Hudson on Highway 58. In 2010, Jack and Laura moved to Cedar Falls, on Briarwood Drive.

In 1971, Jack special ordered a brand new Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser with a high output 455 engine. Although Laura was less than thrilled with him initially, the car was used to go on several cross-country family vacations; on his 88th birthday, he told the family it was his favorite car.

In 2013, Jack went on an honor flight to Washington D.C., accompanied by his son, Jim, and brother-in-law, Fred. He received a warm welcome home at the Waterloo Airport. He stated how special the day was for him, and that his favorite moment was seeing the Korean War Memorial.

Jack loved to have coffee and breakfast with those he loved. He also loved the home-cooking of his wife, Laura. He loved the outdoors, pheasant hunting, dogs, fishing, boating, driving, his rose garden, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and spending time with his family.

Jack is survived by his wife, Laura; three sisters: Lois Schultz of Waterloo, Ruth Bowers of Davenport, Fran Shrunk of Shawnee Mission, Kansas; one brother, Dave (Donna) Kaus of Urbandale; by three sons: Russell (Teresa) of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ron (Elizabeth) of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, James of Hudson; by nine grandchildren: Joshua (Kari), Heather, Daniel (Ali), Rachel, Benjamin, Zachary, Austin, Hannah, and Emily; and by one great-grandchild, Savannah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and eldest sister Roberta.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 27. 2017 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, with visitation from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, February 26 at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Source: Dahl VanHove Schoof Funeral Home -- www.DahlFuneralHome.com