Obituary of Walter Theodore Kraus

Walter T. Kraus, 81, of Monticello, Iowa died Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at St Lukes Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa after a short battle with cancer. Friends may call from 1:30 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2011, at Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello where a parish vigil service will be held at 8:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 9, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, Iowa, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Keith Birch. Walter entered the world with a bang being born on the 4th of July, 1930, the son of Michael and Amelia Kraus. Walter and Janaan Smith were married August 8th, 1957 in Sand Springs. He and Janaan have been ballroom dancing for all of their 54 years of marriage and they enjoyed the County Line Card Club for 50 years. Walter served in the Korean War in 1952 - 53 and was chosen to participate in the Honor Flight in 2011. For many years he placed the American Flags on fellow Veterans' graves at the Monticello Sacred Heart Cemetery for Memorial Day weekend. He was a successful farmer and purchased land in the Prairieburg area. In 1994, they retired and moved to Monticello. He dedicated many hours to volunteering including, 4-H, Senior Dining, Sacred Heart Church and School and served on the Swiss Valley Dairy Board. He was an avid reader and traveler. Walter and Janaan visited all 50 states and 10 countries. Dad made life fun and it was Contagious! His life motto was "If you see a man without a smile, give him one of yours." Always the giver, his eyes are donated for research. Survivors include his wife, Janaan, and 8 children: Anna (Ron) Carson of Overland Park, KS, Thomas Kraus of Prairieburg, Mary Kay (Rod) Starks of Delhi, Susan (Ron) Thatcher of Marion, Jean Kraus (Steve Sadler) of Scottsdale, AZ., Donald Kraus (Nikki) of Prairieburg, Jefffrey Kraus (Ann-Marie) of Bendigo, Australia, Jennifer (Jason)Smith of Walker; 10 grandchildren: Maggie and Tessa Carson, Ray Starks, Lilian Thatcher, Allison, Kennedy and Jaelynn Kraus, Tilly Roberts/Kraus, Joshua and Jillian Smith. 2 brothers: Victor (Janice) Kraus of Monticello, Carl (June) Kraus of Worthington; brother-in-law, Francis Reinert of Dubuque; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Ken Zangerle of Hopkinton, Kenny (Cathy) Smith of Hopkinton, Kay (Elmer) Heitz of Farley, Gary (Marilyn) Smith of Manchester, Betty (Jerry) Ries of Earlville, John (Mary) Smith of Ryan, Mary Ellen (Jim) Waite of Cedar Rapids, Dick Riniker of Dyersville, and Mark (Mary) Smith of Cedar Rapids. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Mary Reinert; sisters-in-law: Maxine Zangerle and Shirley Riniker.