Merlin J. Kraus, age 90, of Anita, IA, passed away on Friday, December 23, 2022, at Heritage House in Atlantic, IA.
Born November 25, 1932, near Lidderdale, Iowa, Merlin was one of six children born to Fred and Emma (Kennebeck) Kraus. He served in the U.S. Army in 1954 and 1955 and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. On April 24, 1956, he married Mary Lou Schettler at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Mt. Carmel, Iowa. To this union 6 children were born, Debbie, Donna, Darlene, Barbara, Mike, and Annette. They farmed near Auburn and then Breda, Iowa before purchasing their farm south of Anita, Iowa in 1968. Merle and his family attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita.
In his younger years, Merlin and Mary Lou enjoyed going to dances and card parties with their friends. Merlin’s true passion was farming and raising livestock, going to farm sales, and auction barns. In addition to farming, he was a Moew’s seed corn dealer and worked at Imperial Clevite in Atlantic for 15 years. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 210 and served as Post Commander for two terms. In 2014, he was honored to participate in the Freedom Flight to Washington DC with other area veterans. Merlin also served on the Cass County Fair Board and the Cass County Pork Producers and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Merlin was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Barb Kraus Dierks, his siblings Paul Kraus, Dorothy Behrens, Alfred Kraus, and Robert Kraus, and his son-in-law, Sidney Stepp. He was also preceded by his parents-in-law, Leonard and Florentine (Stork) Schettler.
Merlin is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Lou, his sister, Louise Owens of Carroll, IA and children Debbie Stepp, of Clinton, TN, Donna (Denny) Culbertson of Omaha, NE, Darlene (Mark) Littleton of Lexington, OH, Mike (Ruthie) Kraus of Anita, IA and Annette (David) Raubvogel of Seattle, WA, and son-in-law Duke Dierks. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 1 step-grandson, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita, IA, with a visitation held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, IA.
Memorials may be directed to the Kraus Family to be designated at a later date to many of Merlin’s favorite local charities and organizations. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Arrangements are handled by the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita, IA.
