Elmer C. Kraus, 30 Dec. 1924 - 24 April 2006

KRAUS, SCHINNERLING, SCHAEFER, MCKENZIE, SCHUERER

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 4/27/2006 at 19:43:00

Elmer C. Kraus, 81, died Monday, April 24, 2006, at Colonial Manor of Amana following an extended illness. Services: 10 a.m. Thursday at Middle Amana Community Church, by Elder Jon Childers, assisted by Larry Hertel. Burial: East Amana Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Middle Amana Community Church. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lucille; a daughter, Elizabeth McKenzie and husband, Charles, of West Amana; a son, Perry and wife, Lou Ann, of Alpharetta, Ga.; three granddaughters, Lydia McKenzie, Kathleen Kraus Smith and Katrina Kraus; a sister, Helen Schuerer and husband, Harold, of East Amana; and a brother, George Kraus and wife, Helen, of Sun Lakes, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Elmer Charles Kraus was born Dec. 30, 1924, in Middle Amana, Iowa, the son of Charles and Helena Schinnerling Kraus. He received his education in the Amana Schools, and graduated from Amana High School. He attended the Milwaukee State Teachers College, Milwaukee, Wis., as a cadet for the Air Force. He served in the U.S. Army and Air Force during World War II in the United States and European Theater. Elmer married Lucille Schaefer on July 19, 1947, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was employed by Amana Refrigeration for 23 years. He resigned from Amana Refrigeration and became part owner of Kraus Manufacturing in 1966. He then was affiliated with Highway Equipment Co., retiring in 1987. He founded and was president of the Little Amana Winery Inc. He served on the Board of Directors of the Amana Society and the Amana Nordstrom Corporation. He also served as committee chairman of the Amana Boy Scout troop and was a member of the Hawkeye Area Executive Council for many years.

Elmer had many hobbies, including projects in and outside their home. He loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed working in the yard with the lawn and plants. He was a member of the Amana Church Society, Amana Heritage Society and the American Legion. Memorials may be contributed to the Amana Church Society, Amana First Responders or the Iowa County Ambulance Service.

Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 26, 2006, Edition: F, Page:4B, Record Number: 2168115