Kraus, Fred 1875 - 1957

KRAUS, STEEMAN, NADING, ADAMS, MILLER, LEMBKE, KLATT, WENTZ, REINITZ

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/5/2024 at 21:07:29

Clayton County Register, 07 Nov. 1957.

Fred Kraus, son of William and Elizabeth Kraus, was born in Baden, German, on December 07, 1875. In 1882, at the age of seven years, he and his parents came to the United States and settled near Elkport. He was one of seven children, having four brothers and two sisters. In 1901, Fred's mother, Elizabeth, died, and in a few months was followed by his father, William.

On October 30, 1901, in St. Paul's Lutheran church at Garnavillo, Mr. Kraus married Miss Stella Steeman, a marriage that lasted until his death, a period of fifty-six years. After their marriage, the Kraus family lived on three Clayton county farms: twelve years near Garnavillo, twelve years near Littleport, and nineteen years near Elkport. In 1940, Fred and his family retired from the farm and moved to Garber, where they lived until his death last Thursday.

There were eleven children born to Fred and Stella Kraus. They are as follows: Harry Kraus, who died in infancy in 1902; Mrs. Leona Nading of McGregor; Mrs. Clara Adams of Strawberry Point; LeRoy Kraus of Elkport; Mrs. Freda Miller of Elkader; Mabel Kraus, who died in 1911, at the age of nine months; Mrs. Carrie Lembke of Elgin; Harvey Kraus of Volga City; Mr. Bernice Klatt of Manchester; Lawrence Kraus of West Chicago, Ill.; and Raymond Kraus of Garber.

Preceding him in death besides his parents and two of his children were his brother, William Kraus, and his sister, Minnie Wentz.

On October 31, 1957, at about 11:45 a.m. he died at the General hospital in McGregor, due to a stroke. He had had two other strokes during the two weeks before his death. He had reached the age of 81 years, 10 months, and 24 days, and had been a resident of Clayton county for almost 75 years.

He is survived by his wife, his children, his sister, Mrs. Carrie Reinitz of Guttenberg; his brothers, Emil and Charlie Kraus Monona; and August Kraus of Guttenberg; 30 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; many in-laws, nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Pallbearers were: Dale Adams, Duane Nading, Marvin Nading, Lawrence Miller Jr., Kenneth Miller and Earl Lembke.

Burial was in the Garnavillo cemetery on November 02, 1957.