Richard Joseph Kraus Sr., age 94, passed away on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at home on the farm in the Town of Day, with family present.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Rozellville, WI, with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam officiating. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Friday, February 23, 2024, at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, WI and from 10:00 am until service time on Saturday at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.
Richard was born on January 27, 1930, in Marshfield, WI to Joseph A. and Dorothy E. (Berdan) Kraus.
He married Dolores K. Draxler on June 7, 1951, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Auburndale, WI, and they enjoyed 63 wonderful years together.
Richard was a graduate of Marshfield High School and of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Agricultural Short Course where he earned an Associate Degree. From early on, Richard was dedicated to his family, his farm, and his community. He farmed in the Town of Day and served as the Town’s Assessor. He had a business sideline with American Breeders Service, working to improve dairy cattle genetics throughout the area. He served on the Board of Directors of Grand Meadow Co-op and as President of Clover Hill Dairy Co-op, both in Stratford, WI. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Mid-America Dairymen Co-op and Chairman of the northern division of Dairy Farmers of America Cooperative. He was also a Charter Member of the Rozellville Lions Club, a member of the Marshfield Knights of Columbus, and served in the Wisconsin National Guard. In 2003, Richard was honored with the Cooperative Builder Award from the Minnesota-WI Federation of Cooperatives. Richard served as the Chairman of the Town of Day, and he was also a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Stratford State Bank, now Partners Bank.
In his free time, Richard especially enjoyed fishing with his family and friends. Five generations of his family have “gone fishing with Dick” in Canada over a span of 70 years. He loved cutting hay, judging dairy cattle, deer hunting, baseball (as a player and a coach), playing cards (he would pick on nothing – and win), following the Brewers, the Packers, the Bucks and the Badgers. And he truly loved watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their activities too numerous to list.
Richard is survived by his children, Richard (Connie) Kraus, Jr. of Stoughton, Kathy (Mark) Schneider of Wausau, Donna (James) Swetz of Panama City, FL, Dolores (Anthony) Reese of Wilmington, NC, Michael (Susanne) Kraus of Oklahoma City, OK, Gloria (Jeff) Josephson of Marshfield, Charles (Debra) Kraus of Stratford, Alan (Emily) Kraus of Northfield, MN, Elaine (James) Hamblin of Hayward, Patrice Mikelson Kraus of Naples, FL, Timothy (Gina) Kraus of Ottumwa, IA, Gregory (Dewina) Kraus of Rochester, MN, and Michelle (Mark) Winemiller of Fort Collins, CO. He is also survived by 35 grandchildren, Matthew Swetz, Jeffery Schneider, Daniel Swetz, Jessie Swan, Sara Siedschlag, Craig Schneider, Neil Swetz, Ben Reese, Nick Reese, Kevin Schneider, Ying-tung (Melody) Huang, James Hamblin, Otto Kraus, Lucas Kraus, Bart Kraus, Jason Hamblin, Becca Leahey, Jill Voras, Julie Schneider, Elsa Kraus, Mitchell Kraus, Joseph Hamblin, Jon Hamblin, Michael Josephson, Laura Josephson, Abby Mancilla, Kate Kraus, Maria Kraus, Julia Kemochan (Winemiller), Samuel Winemiller, Isaac Winemiller, Zachary Swetz, Adam Mikelson, Andrew Mikelson, ( Oliver Kraus, and William Kraus, and 33 great-grandchildren (with more on the way).
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and a sister Jeanie Draxler.
Memorials may be designated to the Farm Rescue Foundation (farmrescue.org) or to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Agricultural Short Course (supportuw.org). Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
Author: News Desk
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