Joseph Kraus

After a several weeks stay in the hospital, Joseph Kraus of Stockton died August 23, 2018 due to complications post heart surgery. He was 78. He was born September 8, 1939 in Portland, Oregon. Joe served in the United States Navy for several years active and in the reserve. A journalist by trade his entire life, he spent fifteen years as managing editor of daily newspapers in California and Arizona. With autograph collecting being his hobby and passion his entire life, he made it his career by creating two successful magazines, The Autograph Collector Magazine and Child Stars Magazine as well as the owner and operator of Celebrity Galleries, which was a family business, for 33 years. Over the last three years he has written and self-published seven books.

He has been active in Woodcraft Rangers and Boy Scouts of America where he served as an adult leader, coaching YMCA Basketball, numerous church callings, American Legion Karl Ross Post 16 and Fleet Reserve long after his retirement. He also played an integral part in the Young Artist Awards in Hollywood, California for nearly 20 years.

Married April 8, 1968 in the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City to the late Karren Kraus. They were married one day shy of 50 years. The union produced four children: John Kraus (who died in childbirth), Heidi Delaney and Peter Kraus of Sacramento and Rebecca Sprinkle of Stockton. Their six grandchildren include Jaycee Henson and Shawn Kraus of Sacramento, and Caitlyn, Joshua, Addyson and Carter Sprinkle of all Stockton. Joe is survived by a newly discovered sister Kathy Piket and niece Charlotte Shoulders both of Indiana, nephew Jeff Bratjan of New York, cousins Tootie Riggs and Dolores Wells both of Oregon and Leora Brown of Nevada.

Services will be held Friday August 31, 2018 at 10am with a viewing in the hour prior, at the El Dorado Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 7030 N. El Dorado St., Stockton. Interment will be at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, CA. DeYoung Shoreline Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.