Per the wishes of Gary and his family, cremation rites have been accorded under the care of Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A private graveside service will take place at Hillside Cemetery in State Center. To honor the life of Gary, friends and family are invited to attend a celebration on Thursday, September 16 starting at 5:00 P.M. at “Papa Gary’s Party Shed,” 15707 310thStreet in Conrad, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for later designation. For questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Born on June 9, 1961, in Faribault, MN, he was the son of Gordon and Sandra (Ulen) Krause. After graduating from West Marshall High School in 1979, he went on to study Agricultural Business at Ellsworth Community College. On September 12, 1981, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Suzanne German in State Center. Together, they raised their two children and now call Conrad home. Gary worked hard as a paramedic for over 25 years at the Marshalltown Hospital and most recently worked at Greenbelt Transportation in Eldora. Deeply compassionate, he was one of the founding members of BCERT and was very proud of the many lives he saved and touched over his years as a paramedic. He was very involved in his community, known by most as “Papa Gary” and he knew no strangers. He was also a member of First Presbyterian Church in Conrad. In his free time, Gary loved playing the banjo, especially with his friend Mike Maddick, drinking whiskey and riding his motorcycle any chance he could get. He enjoyed getting people together and cooking for them, particularly famous for his jalapeno poppers. More than anything else, he loved his family deeply. He found great joy in watching his children in all their activities and especially loved anything to do with “papa’s girls.” Gary loved loud and fierce and was well known for giving the world’s best “bear hugs.” He built a beautiful life and legacy and always said he was “the luckiest man in the world.”

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Suzanne; his children: Ashley (Brian) Ladehoff and Austin (McKaylee) Krause; grandchildren: Eden and Tenley Ladehoff and baby K on the way; his mother, Sandra (Dennis) Shaltanis; siblings: Greg (Brenda) Krause, Gwen (Mike) Wall and Gail (Wayne) VanMersbergen; brothers-in-law: Mark German, Kevin (Teri) German and Greg German; several other relatives and many friends.

In death, Gary is reunited with his two daughters: Tera and Amber Krause; his father, Gordon Krause; in-laws: Lanny and Betty German and his friend, Pastor Mike, who in their reunion, have brought their Bluegrass band back in action.