Eugene Edison Krause

Watertown, SD

1938, 2748, Pactola, F-4,

Eugene Edison Krause passed away peacefully Thursday, October 24, 2013, at his home surrounded by his family at the age of 92. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Watertown. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD.

He was born July 1, 1921, in Roseau, MN, to William and Lulu (Brandt) Krause. Shortly thereafter the family made their home in Watertown, SD. Gene was married to Augusta Raml for 72 years.

Following a service with the Civil Conservation Corps in the Black Hills Gene worked for Swift Packing until he enlisted in the U. S. Navy in July 1942. He received five battle stars for the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, Anzio, Normandy (on Omaha Beach) and the invasion of Southern France. He had a rare distinction for serving in both the European and the Pacific theater of operations where he received many medals and ribbons. While in the Pacific he made landings in the Solomon islands and the island of New Guinea where he fought the Japanese.

Among Gene's endeavors in the military were setting up the landing lights on Omaha Beach before the Normandy invasion began, being part of a mission to go behind enemy lines up the Po River in Italy to destroy an early German radar station, and he also delivered gold to the French underground, walking only at night with one officer and one other soldier.

After the Normandy invasion, Gene was selected to represent the United States Navy as an honor guard to greet King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England. Gene was told by the King, "You are doing a fine job."

After receiving an honorable discharge in July 1945, Gene returned to his hometown of Watertown, SD, where he and Augusta raised their family while he worked for Hill Packing Company, retiring in 1963. Later in life he helped his sons, Jerry and Casey farm.

Gene was preceded in death by an infant son, Mason William, his parents, four brothers, and two sisters.

He will be missed by his wife, Augusta; their daughters, Sylvia "Dolly" (Chuck) Tollefson, Ramona Krause, Diane (Jack) Mates, Toni (Chuck) Hegerfeld; their sons, Jerry (Rozann) Krause and Casey (Joanne) Krause; 18 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Deanna Krause; and several nieces and nephews.

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