Kendall Krause

Kendall E. Krause, age 81 years of Cassopolis, Michigan died peacefully at 8:42 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2019 with family gathered around at his home following an extended illness.

He was born on April 14, 1937 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was a son of Jesse Harris and Elna Elizabeth (Mockerman) Krause.  He attended school in Grand Rapids before enlisting in the United States Army.  He served most of his term at overseas posts, and was Honorably Discharged as a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.  He came to Cassopolis in 1962 where he owned and operated Krause Construction specializing in residential repair, remodeling, and additions.

Ken was a member of the Bethel Community Brethren in Christ Church, often walking with his young family the three country miles from home to church and back.  His devotion to Jesus Christ led him to share the Gospel through the Cass County Camp of Gideon’s International; feed and clothe the poor through the Faith Mission of Elkhart, Indiana and Children’s Lifeline in Haiti; visit those in prison as an Assistant Chaplain at the Cass County Jail, and encourage fellow believers through the ministries of Southwest Michigan DeColores.  His actions fulfilled Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink  .  .  .”.

Ken also served his community as a board member of the Cass County Council on Aging, and was a member of Toastmasters International.  Of course, he was already a great storyteller, so Toastmasters either helped hone that craft, or just gave him another captive audience.  He was always ready and willing to visit with a new, or a longtime friend, sharing a story with some facts and some  .  .  .  enrichment.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents and by a brother, Roger Krause.

On August 31, 1963 in Cassopolis he married the former Shirley Ann Shadwick with whom he celebrated last year the fifty-fifth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Shirley Krause; children Tammy (& Terry) Garber of Elkhart, Indiana, Karee Noel Krause of Cassopolis, and Kendall (& Penny) Krause of Vas, North Carolina; grandchildren Zachary (& Brittany) Puckett, Joshua (& Aleigha) Puckett, and Kimberly Jane (& fiancé Jonathan Shoemaker) Krause; great-grandchildren Noah, Leavi, and Elijah; adopted son Dale Krause of Cassopolis and many foster children including Jim & Melissa Hart, John Hart, Hugh Lane, Debby Stephens, and Mary Slack.

Also surviving are Ken’s siblings, Kerry (& Audrey) Krause of Grand Rapids, Loretta Coon of Battle Creek, Michigan, Vonnie (& Tom) Rozema of Wyoming, Michigan, Russell Krause of Grand Rapids, Arlis (& Jim) Dieleman of Grand Rapids, and sister-in-law Judy (Mrs. Roger) Krause of California; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Kendall Krause will be at Noon on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at the Bethel Community Brethren in Christ Church, 56986 Decatur Road, Cassopolis with Pastor Paul Pawelski of the church officiating.  Committal will follow at the Young’s Prairie Cemetery, and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church on Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Contributions in memory of Ken may be made to the Bethel Community Brethren in Christ Church; or to the Cass County Cancer Services, Post Office Box 676, Edwardsburg, Michigan, 49112.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.