William Krause

William Richard “Bill” Krause, age 90, of Fountain City, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. He was born on July 17, 1926 in Fountain City to the late Richard and Clara (Braatz) Krause. Bill worked alongside his father on the family farm for many years while at the same time working a full-time job after graduating high school. On November 15, 1948, Bill was united in marriage to Shirley Ebert in Fountain City. To this beloved union, three children were born. In addition to his never ending work on the family farm, Bill worked for R.D. Cone Co. of Winona, Kochenderfer & Sons, Fountain City and lastly for Fountain City Ford as part owner for 50 years. Bill was a long time, faithful member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Fountain City where he devoted his time on the many church boards, most notably as Sunday School Superintendent and the church consistory. He loved his days as an usher and was the church’s fix it man for many years. He also served the C-FC school district as a member and treasurer of the school board for approximately 20 years. For 61 years, Bill was a proud and active member of the Buffalo River Masonic Lodge, 0252 of Mondovi. One of Bill’s most memorable experiences was a 1947 trip to Poland aboard a ship loaded with more than 1,500 horses and cattle. The trip was to last 42 days round trip. Thanks to one of the coldest winters in modern history they arrived back home on the 113th day of the trip. Bill will be remembered for his soft spoken personality, tender heart and being a man of great faith but mostly as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather in all of whom Bill took great pride. He will be deeply missed by his wife of the past 68 years, Shirley; children, Terry (Greg) Miller of Arlington, TN, William H. (Karen) Krause of Fountain City and Linda (Joseph) Kastantin of La Crosse; grandchildren, Matthew (Kimberly) Miller, Chad Krause, Adam (Jennifer Schott) Krause, Andrew (Sara) Kastantin and Brady (Carrie Baures) Krause; 8 great grandchildren, Ariel, Gregory, Madeline and Jeffery Miller; Triton, Eliana, Haylee and Taya Krause and M; one sister, Alita Krause of Winona; also by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Violet Ruben, Iris Wachs, Juanita Krause, Corlynn Finner and Ferne Sommers. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 1:00 PM at St. John's United Church of Christ, Fountain City, WI with Pastor Greg Ferriss officiating. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, April 29 from 10 AM until the hour of the service all at the church. Please share a memory or express you words of sympathy at www.talbotfuneralhomes.com