Ann Kraus

1923 - 2020

Ann Kraus
May 22, 1923 - December 21, 2020
Kuna, Idaho - Annie May Smith Kraus, 97, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died on Monday, December 21, of the Coronovirus known as COVID19. Born on May 22, 1923, to Courtney Christian Smith and Grace Wallraff Smith, Annie grew up on the Indiana dunes of Lake Michigan. During World War II, she drove a forklift in a metal factory, learned to fly an airplane, and paid her way through Bible College, where she met the love of her life, Estel Kraus.
Estel and Annie devoted the first sixteen years of their marriage to pastoring churches in small, out-of-the-way villages and towns because, Annie said, Estel felt his ministry was to the poorest communities. In the early 60s, disillusioned with hypocrisy in the church, Annie and Estel left the formal ministry. Familiar with driving trucks and heavy equipment, Estel, who grew up on a farm, took a job as a truck driver. Annie kept the hearth and home. Later, as her children took flight—some near, some far—she found work packing apples, peaches, pears, cherries, apricots, and plums in the fruit sheds of an Idaho fruit farmer. Long hours hefting fifty-pound boxes at barely above minimum wage netted Annie enough money to buy the birthday and Christmas presents she had always wanted for her children, grandchildren, and far-away family and friends.
Annie loved the wild wind and storms, birdsong, and flowers of every hue and shape. She could plant almost anything in the ground, tell it to grow, and it would rise up and flourish. A rich alto, she sang joyously and spontaneously until the last years of her life. Throughout her life Annie taught her children and grandchildren to breathe deeply big gulps of fresh air and, in the worst moments, to get moving. One of her favorite sayings came from the scriptures:
"This is the day the Lord hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it."
Another, from a less reverent source and which she recited with elation at the first sign of crocus and daffodils sprouting from soggy, icy soil:
"Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the daisies is."
That's our mom. That's our Grannie Annie.
Annie leaves to shuffle, perchance to dance a while longer on this green Earth two brothers, three sisters (none of whom are dancing much these days); her five children and their families: Kathryn and Sharon Grace; Mark and Leisa Kraus; Evelyn and Terry Perryman; Kristin and Rick Joseph; Delight Kraus and Chris Runge; seven grandchildren and one step-grandson; nineteen great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Estel, a brother, a sister, and a step-granddaughter.
Cremation will be handled by The Nampa Funeral Home—Yraguen Chapel. In early January, the family held a virtual memorial dinner through Zoom; and will hold a living memorial when the pandemic is no longer a threat.
May there be glorious winds amidst the sunshine where ever you find yourself, Mom.