Dolores Ann Kraus

Dolores Ann Kraus

Former Cleveland, Ohio, and Sarasota, Florida, resident Dolores Ann "Doll" Kraus passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, January 10, 2022, in Centerville, Ohio, at the Health and Rehab Center at St. Leonard Senior Living Community. She was 94 years old. Her death was attributed to complications of dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's Disease.

Dolores was born on June 21, 1927 to John and Anne (O'Masta) Magda. She grew up in Gates, Pennsylvania, where her parents owned and operated a grocery store. After briefly attending Pennsylvania State University, she moved to Cleveland, where she worked as a telephone operator for Ohio Bell for two decades.

She developed a passion for cultivating roses, which she grew in the flower beds around her home. She also enjoyed swimming, working on jigsaw puzzles, and competing at Scrabble. She had many pets over the years, including two dogs named Spike and Lady, but was truly a "cat person."

She liked to knit but was especially devoted to crocheting, and created many remarkable afghans. Dolores was also an extensive reader, and enjoyed biographies, as well as the many novels of David Baldacci in her later years. She liked taking family pictures and created many photo albums. She was known as being quite feisty and had a bit of a sweet tooth. She always had a Werther's caramel hard candy in her pocket.

After retirement, Dolores and her husband, Frederick "Fritz" Kraus Sr., moved to Florida for 17 years, where they lived first in Sarasota, then Bradenton. They loved their daily walks on the white sand beaches, and collected hundreds of beautiful shells and fossilized shark's teeth. Dolores also treasured her collection of Goebel Hummel figurines.

Dolores will be greatly missed by her son, Fred Kraus Jr., of Kettering, Ohio, his wife, Paula, and their son, Max Kraus, and his wife Kristin, and their two sons, Camden and Carter, of Oakwood, Ohio.

Dolores is also survived by her caring sister, Marcella Wensing, of Parma Heights, Ohio, and brother, John "Jack" (special friend Gale Stacia) Magda, of Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Also surviving are nephews Ken (Marion) Kraus, John (Diana) Kraus, Daniel (Pam) Wensing, Jeff Wensing, Tom Magda, John Magda, Timothy (Christine) Magda, and Michael Yost; and nieces Monica (Roland) Koch, Ann (Serge) Mikhaleff, Mary Jane (Paul) Barlak, Marcella Yost Levcun, Kathy (Ron) Panik, Jane (Vic) Milensky, Mary Beth (Ron) Weisenseel and all of their families, as well as her many friends at St. Leonard and throughout Ohio and Florida.

Dolores was predeceased by her sister, Elizabeth Yost, as well as by her devoted husband of 58 years, Frederick "Fritz" Kraus Sr., who was retired from NASA. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in the 101st Airborne, I Company, 502nd Regiment, as a Paratrooper, during World War II. He parachuted in behind enemy lines during the Normandy D-Day invasion, and fought at Bastogne, Operation Market-Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.

The family extends a very special thank you to the employees at St. Leonard who have helped to care for Dolores for the past 14 years.

Newcomer Funeral Home of Kettering, Ohio, was in charge of arrangements and cremation. A memorial gathering and reunion picnic for all family and friends to celebrate her life is planned for Sunday, July 10, 2022 from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Cleveland Metroparks Creekside Shelter off of Big Creek Parkway in Strongsville.