Elizabeth A. (Kennedy) Kraus, 1919-2008

KRAUS, KENNEDY, URBAIN, ACKERSON, LOERCH, ZAK, CARTABONA, JENNESS, THEOBALD, WESTERMEYER, SCHERRMAN, KEMP, DECKERT

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/25/2015 at 08:37:48

October 26, 2008 edition of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Elizabeth A. Kraus, 89, of Luther Manor, Dubuque, died at 12:55 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, at Luther Manor, following a brief illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Farley, Iowa, with the Rev. Dennis Cain officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Farley. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Farley, where there will be a wake service at 4 p.m.

She was born on May 25, 1919, in Placid, Iowa, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Urbain) Kennedy. After graduating from Farley High School, she attended Mount Mercy College and graduated with a degree in teaching.

She taught school at the Asbury School House while waiting for her soon-to-be husband, Ralph N. Kraus, to complete college and medical school. Elizabeth and Ralph were united in marriage on May 22, 1943, at St. John's Catholic Church in Placid, Iowa.

After their marriage in 1943, Elizabeth embarked on a great adventure with Ralph, who, having been drafted into World War II, decided to stay in the Air Force for his career as an ear, nose and throat surgeon. Together they lived in Detroit, Mich., Anchorage, Alaska, San Francisco, Belleville, Ill., San Antonio, Texas, and Wiesbaden, Germany, until Ralph's sudden death in 1964. At that time, Elizabeth and their five children moved back to Dubuque to be close to family and friends.

In her younger years, Elizabeth was a great basketball player, an avid bridge player, golfer and could throw a great party. More recently, she volunteered at Resurrection Church and Mercy Hospital.

She was a beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.

Surviving are her daughters, Kay Ann (Kent) Ackerson, of Iowa City, Judith Kraus, of Dubuque, Jane (Larry) Loerch, of Bedford, N.H., and Dr. Linda Zak, of Tallahassee, Fla.; grandchildren, Kris (Beth) Ackerson and Kurt Ackerson, of Iowa City, Stephanie Cartabona, of Dover, N.H., Lindsay Loerch, of Milford, N.H., Caitlin (Miles) Jenness, of Huntington, Vt., and Taylor Zak and Mackenzie Zak, of Clearwater, Fla.; two great-grandchildren, Sebastian and Natalie Cartabona, of Dover; a brother, Francis Kennedy, of Dyersville, Iowa; a sister, Irene (John) Theobald, of Dubuque; sisters-in-law, Mary Westermeyer, of Dyersville, Irene (Larry) Scherrman, of Farley, Betty Kraus, of Dubuque; brothers-in-law, Jim (Sue) Kraus, of Farley, Ken Kemp, of Dubuque; and many, many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. Ralph Kraus USAF-MD, on Jan. 29, 1964; a son, Leo Kraus on Oct. 6, 1991; sisters, Mary Kennedy and Helen (John) Deckert; and brothers, Clarence, Martin and Quirin.