Obituaries

Robert Kraus, 75 of Carroll, passed away late Tuesday evening, March 26, 2013 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll from complications related to advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 1, 2013 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir with John Wagner as soloist. Mass servers will be Bob’s grandson, Grant Kraus and Ben Brincks. Lector for the funeral mass will be Clete Windschitl. Gift Bearers will be Bob’s grandchildren: Hannah, Haley, Heather, Heidi, and Hans Kraus; Kayla Sullivan, and Rachel and Zachary Tobler. Eucharistic Ministers will be Vernell Wittrock and Joan Badding. Casket Bearers will be Bob’s grandsons: Jake Sullivan, Aaron Kraus, and Von Kraus; Robert’s son-in-law, Keith Tobler, and Bob Badding, Harold Danner, and Roger “Chico” Kanne. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 2:30 p.m. on Sunday where there will be a rosary at 3 p.m. by the Carroll Knights of Columbus and a Christian Wake Service at 5 p.m. by Holy Spirit Parish. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at 8:30 a.m. on Monday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral mass.
In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to the Bob and Kathy Kraus Family Scholarship Fund at Kuemper Catholic Schools. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Bob’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Robert L. Kraus was born on June 25, 1937 in rural Carroll, Iowa, the son of Fred and Emma (Kennebeck) Kraus. Robert was married on April 29, 1961 to Kathleen Baumhover at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Mt. Carmel. To this union were five children and 12 grandchildren.
He served in the U.S. Army mostly in Berlin Germany from 1957-1959. Bob was active in the Carroll community as a longtime usher at Holy Spirit Parish and member of the Pastoral Council; a member of the Serra Club; and served as a longstanding member of Knights of Columbus and Elks Club. He also was a strong supporter of New Hope Village and Kuemper Catholic High School. He served as Carroll City Council At-Large councilman from 1974-1981; as President of Carroll Jaycees from 1968-1969; member of the American Legion since 1963; and President of Carroll Board Realtors in 1987.
He was owner of Bob Kraus Insurance and Real Estate in Carroll and was an insurance agent and real estate broker over a 45 year career. He served as a board member and president of Mt. Carmel Mutual Insurance Association for 36 years from 1971-2007. He also was active in sponsoring local activities, charities and events over the years.
Bob loved playing golf, traveling, fishing trips and hunting with his friends, bowling, and card playing. He was fun-loving and always up-beat. He loved playing with his grandchildren and joking around with them. He was always there for his children and cared for them dearly. He also had fun playing the accordion when requested over the holidays.
Bob was survived by his wife Kathy, daughter Lori, married to Keith Tobler with children Zachary and Rachel of Libertyville, Illinois; son Steven, married to Jill (Schreck) with children Hannah, Haley, Von, Grant, Heather, Heidi, and Hans Kraus of Carroll; daughter Karen Sullivan with children Jake and Kayla of Urbandale, Iowa; son John married to Julie (Korwes) with their son Aaron of Urbandale, Iowa; and daughter Renee Kraus of Scottsdale, AZ. He was also survived by his brother Al of Maple River; brother Merlin and wife Mary Lou of Anita, and sister Louise Owens of Carroll; and in-laws Marilyn Ortner of Pittsville, Wisconsin; Don and Donna Baumhover of Watervliet, MI and Joan Baumhover of Fonda, Iowa. Preceded in death by family members including his mother and father Emma and Fred Kraus; his parents-in-law Minne (Kanne) and John A. Baumhover; his brother Paul (Norma) Kraus, sister Dorothy (Harry) Behrens; and in-laws Jim Owens ,Irene Kraus ,Norman Baumhover and Mardella Baumhover-Pudenz, Justin Ortner , Wilbur Baumhover, Cletus and Jean Baumhover, Irwin Baumhover and Joann Baumhover.