Ronald William Krause

Ronald W. Krause, 76, died Sunday, June 21, 2015 at Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in

Elkhorn, WI.  Ronald William Krause was born on October 8, 1938 in Merrill, Wisconsin, to the late Clarence

William and Grace (Sukow) Krause. After graduating from high school in Merrill, Ron earned a

Bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University, Appleton, in 1960. He later completed a Master’s

degree at UW-Whitewater in 1969 and continued to earn post-graduate credits throughout his

career.  On August 3, 1963, Ron was united in marriage to Jo Ann Marie Nelson. They lived in Lake

Geneva and purchased a home in Genoa City in 1968.  Ron was hired by Badger High School in 1960 as the band instructor for the Lake Geneva

School District’s elementary music programs. He then accepted the position of band director

at Badger High School in 1970. During Ron's teaching career, he launched the school’s orchestra

program and a vocal music boys’ choir, and Ron’s bands won numerous state and national

accolades. Ron was also a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in

Genoa City, where he was choir director for many years.  After retirement from Badger in 1995, Ron started EZ-Go Travel, Inc., a service providing

travel arrangements for school groups. He was an avid bridge player and earned his Junior

Life Master’s in Bridge. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and camping. Ron also treasured frequent

family get-togethers and an annual camping trip to Devil’s Lake State Park with his children

and grandchildren.

Ron is survived by his wife, JoAnn; four children, Kim (Mark) Meier of Brookfield, Todd

(Barbara) of Lake Geneva, Kevin (Diane) of Lake Geneva and Kenneth of Genoa City; 11

grandchildren, David Krause, Ashley Krause, Erica Meier, Brooke Krause, Kirsten Meier, Kaleigh

Krause, Jordyn Krause, Peyton Krause, Morgan Krause, Sydney Krause and Claire Krause; one

great grandchild, Christopher James Carlson; a brother, Alan (Mary Lou) Krause of Lansing,

Michigan and a sister, Carol (Rich) Ward of Merrill.  Ron was preceded in death by a son, Keith A. Krause, on July 12, 2012.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday June 27, 2015 at the Badger High School

Auditorium with pastor Jennie Swanson of the First Congregational United Church of Christ

officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lake Geneva, and family and friends

are then invited to continue the celebration of Ron’s life at a luncheon at the First

Congregational United Church of Christ in Genoa City.  The Krause family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday, at

Badger High School. Memorial remembrances may be made to the Ronald Krause Memorial

Music Scholarship Fund, 1112 Wisconsin Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147. For an online

guestbook, visit haaselockwoodfhs.com. The Haase-Lockwood and Associates Funeral Home of

Genoa City is handling arrangements for the Krause family.

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