Robert Alexander Krause Jr. (75) passed away quietly, with Frank Sinatra playing in the background, on September 7th, 2023, after wonderful family time with his daughters, son-in-laws and his grandson in Austin, TX. He was born April 12, 1948 to Robert and Esther (Suppes) Krause in Saginaw Michigan and was the oldest of four siblings; two brothers, John and Tim and one sister, Cathy.
After graduating from Arthur Hill High School in 1966, he enrolled at the University of Michigan, with a scholarship for voice, while pursuing civil engineering and business management, but was quickly drafted to the Air Force during the Vietnam war. Though he didn’t speak much of his time whilst serving, one of his most memorable stories was how he brought back a husky / wolf mix puppy from Alaska tucked in his jacket as he was boarding his last flight home to Michigan.
After the war, he was employed with “Ma Bell” in Marquette, Michigan and from there he would make his way to Karlin, Michigan, where he met Barbara DeLorme, his second wife, with whom he had his two daughters, Robin (Berthod) and Sarah (Duke).
He was “Bob” to everyone that knew him, and Bob loved to sing! You would find him in church choir most Sundays at the Burt Lake Christian Church, alongside his daughters who shared his love of singing. He was also a member of SPEBSQSA, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, of which he was part of a quartet called Aire Force 1 and the Cereal City Chorus that competed nationally and won numerous awards.
Family deer camp with his father, brothers and nephews was the highlight of the winter season for him and held a fond place in his heart that he always spoke of. Bob was also a lover of animals, especially dogs and horses. He had his daughters on horseback before they could walk and encouraged them in 4-H, lovingly trailering horses and campers to horse shows and fairs.
Bob worked for the state of Michigan, as a civil engineer for the State Department of Military Affairs at the Air Force National Guard Base in Battle Creek before transferring his family back up north where he was employed at Camp Pellston, a minimum security prison camp, as the Maintenance Supervisor, until his retirement. He forged life long friendships amongst his fellow co-workers and was greatly respected by his peers and inmates alike. He also served on the board of the MSEA (Michigan State Employees Association) / AFSCME local 5, for many years, notably as Secretary, and was very active with their union functions.
Robert was preceded in death by both of his parents.
He is survived by his 2 daughters and their husbands, Robin (Krause) and Brian Berthod, Sarah (Krause) and Lynn Duke, and grandchild Lincoln “Link” Duke, four nephews and four nieces, his two brothers, their wives, their children and grandchildren and his sister, her husband as well as their children and grandchildren.
Above all he was a beloved father and grandfather.
A private Veteran’s service and celebration of life will be held with immediate family, at a date yet to be determined.
Donations to the DAV or Wounded Warrior Project, in his name, are warmly welcomed.
