Kirby Karl Krause

May 24, 1926 to October 29, 2021

Survived by his wife of 70 years, Frances Ann (Holik) Krause.

Born to Minnie Lee Kleypas and Edwin Julius Krause in Burlington, Texas, Kirby was the third of seven siblings - six boys and one girl. He spent his formative years in Burlington, Rockdale, and Taylor. As a young boy, Kirby and his brothers worked with their father milking cows and delivering milk to area households. They would perform these duties before school each day. This experience instilled a work ethic in Kirby that would last his entire life. During World War II the family had to stop the milk business because they could not get tires or gasoline!

Kirby graduated high school from St. Mary's in Taylor in 1944. Shortly after, Kirby's family moved to Bryan, Texas in September 1944. He was drafted that same month and proudly served in the US Navy. He was stationed on the USS Nevada battleship in the South Pacific theater in the course of World War II, supporting the invasions of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. He was at sea for 15 months. He loved to share stories of those times - suffering crippling sea sickness in the early days, surviving a typhoon, and being hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane. He separated from the Navy in June 1946, after the war ended. In April 2018, Kirby was invited to participate in an Honor Flight for veterans to see the National World War II Memorial and other war memorials in Washington D.C. There aren't many World War II veterans alive, so Kirby was very happy and honored to attend with service members from WWII as well as other wars. The experience brought him to tears.

Kirby returned to Bryan in 1946 after service and began working for Butter Krust Baking Co., delivering bread with his father. He attended St. Joseph Catholic Church and joined the Order of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, in March 1947. He met his future wife, Frances Ann Holik, through the Catholic Youth Organization at St. Joseph. While in Bryan, he attended and graduated from the McKinzie-Baldwin Business College.

Kirby moved to Austin, Texas in 1949, and continued to work for Butter Krust (then on Lamar Boulevard) on the bread conveyor belt. He also attended the Nixon Clay Business School, studying bookkeeping. He had a knack for numbers like no other! He could add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers in his head until his death. It was a gift! Kirby lived in a boarding house on 9th Street in downtown Austin during this time.

Though Kirby was living in Austin, he and Frances had their first date in Bryan on August 23, 1950. They were engaged four months later on December 23, 1950, and were married four months after that on April 23, 1951, at St. Joseph's in Bryan. After marriage they rented an apartment in south Austin and attended St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church. They purchased a newly built home in the Crestview neighborhood on October 18, 1954, and became founding parishioners of St. Louis King of France Catholic Church. Kirby and Frances lived in their home and faithfully attended St. Louis until early 2019, when their health required assistance. They have lived at Brookdale Northwest Hills for the last several years and attended St. Theresa's. Kirby and Frances have a tradition of renewing their wedding vows every year, including on their 70th wedding anniversary earlier this year.

Kirby worked for Butter Krust his entire professional career, primarily in the administrative offices as a bookkeeper. He retired in 1982 after 42 years of employment. His many nieces and nephews remember tours of the bakery on Airport Boulevard - the smell of the fresh baked bread, the paper caps, and mini

loaf samples. The family all loved "Uncle Pot" (as he was fondly called) and a bakery visit.

Kirby was very proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus (earned in November of 1969), the highest and most prestigious degree within the KC, and a Past Faithful Navigator, Financial Secretary, and Trustee, among other roles. He was a Charter Member of Council #5967 when it was organized in May 1967 and was a very active KC for 75 years. This was one of his proudest accomplishments. He was involved in the KC fish fries during Lent, bingo games (where he was usually the caller), and Christmas-time tamales, and always volunteered when needed. As those who know him say, he was always collecting the money! As a long-time member, Kirby is known throughout the KC community in Austin. He made life-long friendships with his fellow Knights, including regular golf games and traveling with other couples.

It was hard to tell the difference between his volunteering with the KC and with St. Louis church. Kirby served on the church's Parish Finance Board, was a member of the Parish Activity Center and Gymnasium Building Committee, was a Captain of Ushers at Mass, and was a member of the Men's Club. He frequently picked up items for the church food pantry at Randalls and Target. He was also a member of the senior group at the church, who played dominos every Wednesday. Even after moving into Brookdale, members would pick up Kirby and bring him to the Wednesday domino games. Kirby was a pillar of the church and will always be remembered.

Kirby was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Dr. Robert Krause of Plano; Edlee Krause of McAllen; Ralph (Ray) Krause of Woodville; Derrill Krause of Cameron; Wilma Lee of Brownwood; and Donald Krause of San Antonio. He is survived by his wife, Frances Ann Krause, 39 nieces and nephews, and many, many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, located at 6100 North Lamar Austin, TX 78752, with a rosary following, at 6:00 p.m.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 5, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Louis King of France Catholic Church, located at 7601 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757, with a graveside service to follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 2811 Old Kurten Rd., Bryan, TX 77803.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com for the Krause family.