Ralph Krause

The following is a tribute written by Mr. Ralph Krause’s loving family:

Our Father, Ralph D. Krause, 82, peacefully lost his battle to cancer on January 23, 2022 with his family by his side. He was born in July 1939 at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Our father attended school at Perry Central and played varsity basketball until he graduated in 1957. After graduation, our father continued to work on his childhood farmland in Lebanon, IN and at the local fertilizer plant until he became a production relief man at Chrysler Foundry in January 1963. Well known as “Red” to many others at the foundry, dad was an avid bowler and in fact was on the bowling league at the company for a few years until he took an early retirement in 2001 after working for 37 and 1/2 years. Our father continued as a member of UAW 550 and was dedicated to the union for many years until he passed away. 

Our father always enjoyed going to car shows and taking vacations with his family. He enjoyed bowling, landscaping and watching/going to see if his beloved sports teams would win the game. He also enjoyed playing miniature golf. Our father loved being a jokester and making people laugh with his quick-witted sense of humor. He was very family-oriented and enjoyed spending time with the love of his life, his late wife, Gloria Jean, whom he was married to for 50 years, and his three children, Laurie Small of Pittsboro, IN., Ralph D. Krause Jr. of Loves Park, IL. and April Chludzinski of Elkton FL. He also enjoyed his time with his four grandchildren, Ashley Patton of Pittsboro, IN., Heather Robbins of Desert Hot Springs, California and Ronald Derek Robbins II of Indiana and Ava Chludzinski of Elkton FL. He especially enjoyed playing horseshoes, all sports , swimming, riding bikes and being young at heart with his nine great- grandchildren, two of which precede him in death.

Our father always took pride in everything he accomplished and taught everyone around him to do the same in their own lives. Our father also taught us to have fun in life because “it’s too short to do anything else”. The memories we have of this special man will always be cherished. We will always remember his smile as he is smiling at us all and his memory will forever carry on.

Family and friends will gather on Monday, January 31, 2022, at Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home in Pittsboro, Indiana from 4 pm to 7 pm.  A funeral service will be held the following day, Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 11 am also at the funeral home.  Ralph will be laid to rest in Lincoln Memorial Gardens in Whitestown, Indiana following the service.

Arrangements are entrusted to Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services.  All are encouraged to share thoughts, prayers, and memories with Ralph's family on his memorial page found on the funeral home's website, www.ericmdbellfuneralhome.com . 

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