Lewis B. Krausse Jr.

1943 - 2021

Lewis B. Krausse, Jr.
April 25, 1943 - February 16, 2021
Holt, Missouri - Lewis B. Krausse, Jr. of Holt, Missouri passed away on February 16th, 2021 from complications following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Lew was born on April 25th, 1943 in Media, Pennsylvania. His love of sports began at the age of 8 years old. Lew was an exceptional athlete and excelled at all sports. Later in life, he was named to the Delaware County Sports Hall of Fame, joining his father, who was inducted in 1963. Lew ultimately turned his focus on baseball. Becoming a standout high school pitcher, Lew was destined to be a professional baseball player by not only possessing outstanding talent and but also having a professional scout as a father.
In June of 1961, a month out of high school, he was signed by the Kansas City Athletics and quickly thrown into a position of fame and expectations. Lew was one of the first "bonus babies" in pro sports, signing at that time for a record $125,000 bonus by A's owner, Charley Finley.
On June 16th he started his first professional game and pitched the Athletics to a 3-hit, complete game 3-0 victory vs. the Los Angeles Angels. Lew also had two hits in the game and set the baseball world a blaze. Lew was the youngest player in professional baseball that season.
Lew went on to have 12 major league seasons and play professionally for 13 years. Playing for the Athletics as well as the Oakland Athletics, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves, before retiring in 1974.
Lew's best season in baseball was 1966 when he was 14-9 with a 2.99 ERA.
Lew was the first pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers franchise, starting their first game April 7th, 1970.
As good as Lew's talents were on the baseball field, Lew was equally gifted with people. He quickly developed as a skilled salesman and began the next chapter of his professional life.
After having success selling for a small metals service center company, Lew and destiny collided once again. In 1983, along with two other partners; Bill Drummond and Fred Paulsen, they set out on their own and started their own metals service center company.
With talented staff and exceptional leadership, the company began to flourish. Over the years they added employees, developed an extensive customer list across six states and eventually built a brand-new custom-built building north of Kansas City in 1996. In 1997 Lew and his remaining partner, Bill Drummond sold the company to a bigger corporation with multiple locations across the country.
During his down time Lew developed a love for the game of golf. His natural athletic ability and competitive nature were a perfect combination to mold him into a superior golfer in his time.
The business and approach they created in 1983 is one that is frequently imitated today. It remains in operation and is now part of the largest company in the industry.
With a $25,000 dollar investment, Lew and his partners created a business that exceeded sales of $91 million in 2020.
Lew retired from the metals industry in 2009.
He busied himself during his retirement years by playing golf, traveling to Cabo, Churchill Downs Kentucky, and Las Vegas as well as enjoying life at home in the country with his four perfect grandchildren fishing and swimming.
Lew is preceded in death by his parents, Lewis B. Krausse Sr., & Lillian Krausse and brother Dave Krausse. He is survived by his wife Susan Krausse and sons Kurt Krausse and Chad Krausse both of Kansas City, MO and four perfect grandchildren, Casey Lewis, Caroline Sue, Braxton Tyler, and Hudson Cruz.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-7pm Tuesday, February 23, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at state route 291, Liberty, MO 64068. (816) 781-8228. A livestreamed service will be held at 1:00pm Wednesday, February 24. You may join the service by going to Lew's obituary at www.parklawnfunerals.com (upcoming service/view service times) and click on the link provided under service information. Burial at Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Liberty Animal Shelter, 101 E. Kansas St., Liberty, MO, 64068. 816-439-4791, or to ALS Foundation - Midwest Chapter.