Curtis "Curt" Krause

Curt Krause Obituary

Curtis Alan Krause, age 79, of New Richland, passed away on Thursday, September 26, 2024, following 15 months of living with Bulbar ALS.

 Born on September 21, 1945, in Waseca, to Elmer and Mildred (Abbe) Krause, Curt was raised in rural Meriden, where he could hit a baseball across a field. He’d also proudly tell you of his Owatonna roots as a member of the class of ‘63. He continued his studies at Mankato State University. Legend has it he was such a force in intramural football, the varsity team asked him to join. He declined, though—Karen Ratigan was much more captivating than the prospect of fame under stadium lights.

 Curt and Karen married on September 5, 1970, residing in Waseca until they moved to rural New Richland, where they raised their three children and Curt farmed. Agriculture wasn’t just Curt’s profession; it was his life’s work. For 60 years, he not only farmed, he also traveled across southern Minnesota and Iowa as an agriculturalist for Birds Eye/Conagra. His days were spent on the back roads, putting in miles, enjoying Peanut M&Ms, and amassing an encyclopedic knowledge of every church, cemetery, and bathroom within a 200-mile radius.

 While Curt’s humor wasn’t on any payroll, it could’ve been—he cracked jokes easily and often. His croquet game, on the other hand, was no laughing matter. With the intensity of a seasoned athlete and his characteristic easy-going nature, Curt played croquet as if he already knew he was going to win…and he almost always did. The same was true of his card-playing skills at seven-up and pfeffer, even with late-stage ALS.

 When he wasn’t farming, winning at croquet and six-handed pfeffer, or trying out his latest material on family and friends, Curt could be found at Trinity Lutheran Church, where he functioned as the unofficial welcoming committee. He sang in the choir, served on the council, and even led services when the pastor was away. His faith was strong, his voice deep, and if you stood next to him during a hymn, he could tell you the hymn number without opening the book.

 Curt is survived by Karen and his three children: Heather (Dion) Krause Quiram, of Mankato; Nathan (Jennifer) Krause, of Cottage Grove; and Meghan (fiancé Brownell Mack) Krause, of Minneapolis; as well as four grandchildren who know more jokes than they probably should: Spencer, Ella, Evan, and Lauren. He’s also survived by his siblings: Linda Armstrong, Roger Krause, Carol Mueller, Kathryn Bean, and Joann Krause (and their spouses), and his brother-in-law Bob Ratigan (and spouse), along with countless nieces, nephews, and friends, who all loved him enough to laugh at the same joke for the 47th time. He is preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law David and Fern Ratigan, aunts and uncles, brother-in-law David Mueller, and nephew Tim Ratigan.

 Visitation will be held from 5:30–7:30PM on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. A funeral service will be held at 10:00AM on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with a visitation beginning at 9:00AM. Pastor Mary Iverson will officiate, perhaps wondering how to fill the space Curt’s welcoming presence normally would. Interment will follow at St. Olaf Cemetery, where Curt’s final resting place will overlook the fields he loved. The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed by visiting www.BonnerupFuneralService.com.

 Curt’s family extends a special thank you to Anna (Stork) Jensen and the kind-hearted teams at Synapticure, Waseca Emergency Medicine, and Mayo Clinic Hospice for their compassionate care. Memorials are preferred to I Am ALS, Trinity Lutheran Church, or the NRHEG Alumni Association Scholarship. In true Curt fashion, he leaves us with this parting reminder: “Daddy sang bass...” (a la Johnny Cash). In Curt’s honor, tell a joke today.