Donald Joseph Kraus passed away on December 21, 2014, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born on August 18, 1932, in Syracuse. He grew up in Marcellus, and graduated from Marcellus High School in 1950. He went on to graduate from LeMoyne College in 1954 with a degree in Accounting, and received 3 senior awards from the college -- the Syracuse Chapter of the National Association of Cost Accountants Award, the Syracuse Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants Award, and the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants Award.
After LeMoyne, Don proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps Officer, and retired from the Navy in 1956. He married the late Noreen O’Grady on May 17, 1958, and they were married for 51 years. He was predeceased by a sister, Marie. He is survived by his three children, Eileen Lynch (William), of Watertown, CT; David Kraus (Connie), of Buffalo, NY; Neil Kraus (Jennifer), of St. Paul, MN; four grandchildren (Emily and Sarah Lynch, and Ben and Alex Kraus); and sisters-in-law Betty Jerge, of Whitewater, WI, and Sheila Etoll, of Syracuse.
Don retired as the Controller of Midstate Elevator Company in Syracuse. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Don loved spending time with his family. In his later years, he especially loved traveling to see his children and grandchildren. He was a longtime active parishioner of the Church of St. Michael and St. Peter in Onondaga Hill, where he was one of the parish's first lectors. Over the years, he was a devoted church volunteer, and was also a member of the church's finance committee and parish council. He was a lifelong woodworker, and sold his hand-crafted clocks at numerous shops in upstate New York and New England. Don was an active member of Cazenovia Artisans in recent years, and served as the organization’s treasurer.
Friends may call on Sunday, December 28, 2014 from 2-4 PM at Butler-Badman Funeral Home, Inc. 4504 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215. All are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 10 AM The Church of Saint Michael and Saint Peter, 4782 West Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse, NY 13215. Interment in Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery.
Don's children would like to thank Hospice of Buffalo for the compassionate care provided and special thanks to Gaylord Stopen and the Louis Jovanovski family for their tremendous support during Don's illness. Donations can be made in Don’s name to the Food Bank of Central New York, 7066 Interstate Island Road, Syracuse, New York 13209.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18