THE REV. ROBERT JOSEPH KRAUS

The Rev. Robert Joseph Kraus, 87, of Jefferson City, formerly of St. Louis, died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, at St. Joseph Home for the Aged. He was born on Feb. 6, 1918, in Jefferson City, the son of Joseph Frank and Emily Christine Hoelscher Kraus. Fr. Kraus studied for the priesthood at Divine Word Seminary in Techny, Illinois; St. Louis Preparatory Seminary; and graduated from Kenrick Seminary for Theology in 1942. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on Dec. 19, 1942 in St. Louis by Cardinal John Glennon. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Liborius Parish in St. Louis from 1943 to 1949; Associate Pastor at St. Peter Parish in St. Charles from 1949 to 1959; Pastor of St. Ignatius Parish in Concord Hill from 1959 to 1963; Pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Glasgow Village from 1963 to 1967; Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Old Monroe from 1967 to 1973; Pastor of Our Lady of Help of Christians Parish in Weingarten from 1973 to 1977; Pastor of St. Clare Parish in St. Clair from 1977 to 1981; Pastor of Holy Martyrs of Japan of Japan, MO from 1981 to 1985; Senior Priest in Service at St. Thomas of Aquinas Parish in St. Louis; and retired in February of 1986. Following his retirement, Fr. Kraus filled pulpits for vacationing priests in the Jefferson City Diocese and was active in the prison ministry at Jefferson City Correctional Center. He also served as confessor for the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus at St. Joseph Home for the Aged, and celebrated the Eucharist for the Discalced Carmelite Sisters at the Carmelite Monastery in Jefferson City. Fr. Kraus was also a Faithful Friar of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. During his active years he led various pilgrimages to Shrines in Europe, the Holy Land; and Mexico. He is survived by two sisters, Sylvia R. Stiefermann, Loose Creek; and Mary E. (John) Bollinger, Jefferson City; two brothers, Raymond J (Lucille) Kraus, Loose Creek; and Cecil J. Kraus, Jefferson City; two sisters-in-law, Norma Kraus and Doris Kraus, both of Jefferson City; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilfred H. Kraus and Harry F. Kraus. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19, 2005, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jefferson City, with Bishop Robert J. Hermann, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, and Bishop John R. Gaydos, Bishop of the Jefferson City Diocese, concelebrating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Jefferson City. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18th, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Carmelite Monastery, 2201 W. Main Street, Jefferson City, Mo 65109; Vitae Caring Foundation, 1731 Southridge Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109; or Immaculate Conception Endowment Fund, 1206 E. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Those wishing to send condolences or tributes to the family may do so at www.dulletrimble.com.