Joan Catherine Krause

Joan Catherine (Baker) Krause, 93, went home to the Lord on Friday morning, March 11, 2022.

Joan was born on September 16, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois to Albert and Anna (Novotny) Baker. She graduated from Carl Schurz High School in Chicago with the class of 1946. She was united in marriage to George E. Krause of Two Creeks, on July 3, 1954 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Kewaunee.

Joan graduated from the modeling program at the Patricia Stevens School of Modeling and Business in Chicago, IL along with her best friend and sister-in-law MaryAnn (Van Acker) Baker. Joan moved to Kewaunee at the age of 20 with her mother. She worked for a judge at the Kewaunee County Court House. She met George, the love of her life, at a dance in Kewaunee. After they were married, she worked for the Mishicot Modern Dairy where she was an egg sorter. George and Joan owned and operated Krause’s Shopping Center of Mishicot and Denmark and Krause’s Catering Service, where she was a bookkeeper until July 1996 when they sold the business and retired. They also owned and operated the Dairy Bar and Chris Cakes.

Joan was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mishicot, and an active member of their Altar Society. She enjoyed working in the office for the church picnics. She devoted many years to the Manitowoc County Extension Homemakers Association, where she held several officer positions. She was a member of the After Sunset Homemaker Group, Mishicot. Sewing was a passion of Joan's and she spent many hours in her sewing room making clothing for herself, grandchildren and for the Jean Wolfmeyer School of Dance. Recently she enjoyed playing BINGO and shut box with her new friends at Scandinavian Court Assisted Living in Denmark, her “soap” Y&R, and feeding the squirrels. She enjoyed attending the concerts of her grandchildren. The handbell concerts quickly became her favorite concerts to attend.

Survivors include her 11 children: George Krause Jr., Jon (Diane) Krause, Gerald "Jerry" Krause (special friend, Jenny), Jeffery "Jeff" Krause (special friend, June Colrue), Gregory "Greg" (Cindy) Krause, Jodi (Jerry) Nejedlo, Gary (Audra) Krause, Jolene (Tony) Marcelle, Glenn (Kerry) Krause, Jerilyn (Dan) Owen, and Gavin (Josie) Krause; 29 grandchildren: Jennifer (Joe), Beth (special friend, Brian), Melissa (John), Courtney, Bailey (special friend, Cody), Zac (Kelly), Danielle (Mitchell), Brittni (Craig), Arielle, Bianca, Caitlin (special friend, Matt), Ryan, Cliff (Heather), Mason (Brittany), Jackie (special friend, Taylor), Jessica (special friend, Sawyer), Hope (Matt), Jerod (fiancé, Heidi), Cameron, Wesley, Emma, Andrew (special friend, Tiffany), Matt (Christine), Gabriel, Adrianna (David), Paige (Chase), Taylor (fiancé, Derek), Karsyn, and Zane; 34 great-grandchildren: Meghan (Joey), Madalyn, Gabryel, Stephanie, Morgan, Camden, Brielle, Trenton, Taeten, Brooke, Madison, Ashlyn, Reed, Miles, Camille, Nora, Olivia, Owen, Liam, Isabella, Zoei, Isabella, Crew, Taytum, Paxton, Easton, Aden, Harper, Eli, Brayden, Kinley, Alayna, Aubrey, Jack, Clarity, and another great-grandchild due in May; and 3 great-great grandchildren: Caysen, Caden and Haven. She is further survived by 3 sisters-in-law: Carol Koeppel, Marian Krause, and Mary Ann Krause; special cousin, Mary Ann Jackson; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nephew, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Ann (Novotny) Baker; her loving husband, George Krause Sr., her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alois and Mathilda Pauline Krause; one brother, Al Baker II; two sisters-in-law, MaryAnn Baker and Eileen Baker; two brothers-in-law, James Krause and James Koeppel; a granddaughter, Alexandra Catherine Owen; a great-grandson, Sawyer Marcelle; a nephew, Frankie Koeppel; and a special cousin, Millie Perkins.

Relatives and friends may call on Thursday, March 17 from 4 p.m. until the time of the Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m. at the Lambert-Eckert Funeral Home, 344 State Street, Mishicot. Visitation will continue Friday morning after 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mishicot. The funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday with the Rev. Christian Raj and Rev. Jeffrey Briones con-celebrating. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Mishicot. The Mass of Christian Burial will be live-streamed on the parishes YouTube Channel: St Anne and Holy Cross Catholic Parishes beginning at 10:45 a.m.

Online condolences may be sent to the Krause family by visiting www.dejamartin.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Joan's name will be directed to a memorial fund to be established.

Lambert-Eckert Funeral Home of Mishicot is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Fr. Jeff Briones for all the spiritual care and love you extended to our mother. The love you showed for your “Grandma” will be treasured forever. Joan's family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire staff at Scandinavian Court of Denmark where Joan made her home away from home. Sincere thanks also to Aurora at Home Hospice (Leah, Mary, Kelsey and Tammy) for the wonderful compassionate care and kindness extended to our dear mother and our family. Special thank you to: Debbie, Jackie and Kat of "Home Instead Senior Care" and Laura and Melissa for the wonderful care you provided; and Thank you Mary Eis, for keeping mom looking so beautiful all of these years and creating our "hair monster."

Joan will always be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandma, and great-great grandma, friend and homemaker who loved spending time with her family. Always willing to lend an ear to listen to your joys and sorrow, giving wise/sage advice to help you grow. Her cookie jar was always full awaiting your next visit.