Kraus, Walter T.

Walter T. Kraus, 81, of Monticello, died Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at St Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, after a short battle with cancer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. Keith Birch. Friends may call from 1:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Kramer Funeral Home in Monticello, where a parish vigil service will be held at 8 p.m.

Walter entered the world with a bang being born on the Fourth of July 1930, the son of Michael and Amelia Kraus. Walter and JanaanSmith were married Aug. 8, 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 1952-1953 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 have been donated for research.

Survivors include his wife, Janaan; and eight children, Anna (Ron) Carson of Overland Park, Kan., Thomas Kraus of Prairieburg, Mary Kay (Rod) Starks of Delhi, Susan (Ron) Thatcher of Marion, Jean Kraus (Steve Sadler) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Donald Kraus (Nikki) of Prairieburg, Jefffrey Kraus (Ann-Marie) of Bendigo, Australia, and 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; two brothers, Victor (Janice) Kraus of Monticello and Carl (June) Kraus of Worthington; brother-in-law, Francis Reinert of Dubuque; and 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; sister, Mary Reinert; and sisters-in-law, Maxine Zangerle and Shirley Riniker.

Information available and condolences accepted at

Published Jan. 6, 2012, in The Gazette