Karl Krause

life story

Loving father (photo taken March 2023)

About Karl

Karl William Krause, loving father, passed away at age 46 on July 23, 2024. He now has freedom from any pain and discomfort, after years of a long battle with brain cancer.

Karl was born to Kenneth and Diane Krause on June 4, 1978 in Milwaukee, WI. Karl graduated from West Bend West High School in 1996, and Carleton College in Northfield, MN in 2000. Later he pursued a graduate degree in landscape architecture at UVA and worked as a landscape architect for many years. He held many other jobs, often in teaching. He was an avid lover of all things outdoors, and also enjoyed camping, hiking, travel, running, kayaking, swimming, cooking, plants, and music. He especially enjoyed time at Lake Superior including the north shore and Apostle Islands/Madeline Island. He could rock skip with the best. He was a talented dancer, even helping to start the breakdancing club at Carleton, and being famous for his headspin.

He is survived by family and many close friends. Karl and former spouse/dear friend Sarah Jones have one daughter together, Miriam, who they both love and adore.

He is also survived by mother Diane Krause, sisters Anna (Brian) Crabb, and Heidi (Rick) Cantwell. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, father Kenneth “Ken” Krause, uncle Charles “Chuck” Krause, brother in law Andy Crabb, and Andy’s father John Crabb, sister in law Kathy Cantwell, and Kathy’s father Jim Cantwell. He is also survived by his beloved nieces and nephews, Lucy, Josie, and Colin Cantwell, Ben and Maddy Crabb, his devoted aunt and uncle Dennis and Mireille Krause, cousin Eric (Marie-Eve) Krause and family, aunt Mary Kuhnen, cousins Renn (Tomasz) and Adam (Claire) Kuhnen and family, aunt Nannette Krause, cousins Suzie (Mike) Harney and family, Carley (Mark) West and family, and Nicole Krause, extended family Sallie and David Jones, their sons Gordon (Matt), Andrew (Lena) and family, Elaine Crabb, Gretchen Cantwell, other relatives, and friends.

Most of all he enjoyed spending his time with his daughter Mimsy. He was sweet, funny and kind.

In lieu of flowers, Karl requested that donations can be made to Open Arms of Minnesota (openarmsmn.org/donate).

Family wishes to thank all of his caregivers and providers. He was treated mostly at Mayo/Boston initially when he was first diagnosed, and was very grateful for the remission at the beginning after doing proton therapy in Boston. More recently, thanks especially go to Dr. Ruff and the Oncology team at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, including nurses Summer and Jenna, the University of Minnesota East Bank ER and Hospital team 5A oncology unit, staff at Pillars of Prospect Park in Minneapolis, at Pillars Hospice of Oakdale and finally Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul. Karl was cared for by many angels throughout his life, especially during his last few months.

His prior blog about his brain is here (he stopped updating it in 2020). https://karlsamazingbrain.blogspot.com/ His resilience and courage were amazing.

No service is scheduled at this time. RSVPs can be made to the butterfly release at Our Lady of Peace of St. Paul memorial garden August 8th at 430-530 pm at this link by July 29th for those interested, it is a general service event for family or friends connected to OLP and is not specific to Karl. It will be held where he spent his last few days as much as possible in the outdoor memorial garden. Annual Butterfly Release 2024/RSVP – Our Lady of Peace (ourladyofpeacemn.org).

Based on Karl’s wishes/preference, a small celebration of life for family will be scheduled at a future time.