Stephen H. Krause

KEENE -- Stephen Holden Krause, 56, died Oct. 12, 2009, in Peterborough.

He was born on Sept. 23, 1953, in Washington, D.C, moved to Jaffrey when he was a year old and lived at what is now Match Point.

He was the youngest son of the late B. Leonard Krause and Helen Frances Bean and grandson of the late Ellen Holden and Delcie David Bean.

He attended Jaffrey Grade School, was a member of the town's Boy Scout Troop, the Babe Ruth League and the United Church of Jaffrey.

While at Jaffrey Grade School, he began a life-long love of music with the study of the French horn and trumpet. For several years he played the echo to the ceremonial taps at Veterans' Day and Memorial Day observances in Jaffrey. He attended St. Paul's School in Concord from 1966 to 1972, where he played ice hockey, soccer, and tennis and continued his musical studies. During his St. Paul's years he began his tournament tennis play in the annual Jaffrey Open Invitational Tennis Tournament and won numerous singles and doubles events.

Mr. Krause majored in psychology at the University of New Hampshire, where he met his future wife, Colleen O'Brien who was then a teaching assistant in the department. After graduating in 1976, he won the men's singles in the Jaffrey Open Invitational Tennis Tournament and, shortly thereafter, was elected to the General Court to represent Jaffrey and Rindge.

IN HIS LIFE: Demonstrating a keen sense of politics and a passion for the field, Stephen was selected by Judd Gregg to be his first campaign manager. After a successful campaign, Stephen then went to Washington, DC to work for Congressman James Cleveland.

He continued to be active in New Hampshire Republican Party affairs throughout his life. He campaigned vigorously for candidates at all levels of office and was a familiar figure at polling places at elections over the past 30 years.

Steve and Colleen married on July 13, 1980, and settled in Keene where he served as executive director of the Keene Chamber of Commerce. In 1984, Stephen joined the Jaffrey Fire Protection Company, a subsidiary of DD Bean and Sons, where he rose to the position of vice president. In later years, he became a director of DD Bean and Sons and served as secretary, then vice president and co-owner of the corporation.

Stephen was a long-time member of the Jaffrey Economic Development Commission, trustee and vice president of The Park Theatre, a member of the Monadnock Region board of directors of the NH Charitable Foundation, and, for more than 15 years, director and treasurer of the Cheshire County YMCA where he chaired the capital campaign for Camp Takodah's new Dining Hall. In addition to being an accomplished golfer, Stephen was also president of the board of directors of the Keene Racquet Club, started the first all-girl ice hockey team in Keene, coached boys and girls' ice hockey, soft ball and t-ball, and played in the Keene and Jaffrey Open Invitational Tennis Tournaments.

Stephen and his wife were Mixed Doubles Champions of the Keene Tennis Tournament in 1992 and 2007. He was co-captain of the United States Tennis Association Senior Men's doubles team that twice won first place in New England and advanced to the national events in Tucson, Arizona and Indian Wells, California.

Stephen was an avid gardener who took great pleasure in the gardens around his home in Keene. He grew tomatoes and raspberries and had several beds of cutting flowers, rhododendrons and lilacs.

Stephen is the cherished husband of 29 years to Colleen O'Brien Krause, and beloved father of his son, Nicholas O'Brien Krause, and daughters Caitlin O'Brien Krause, Allison O'Brien Krause and Kerry O'Brien Krause. He will be greatly missed by his brother Charles Holden Krause, sister Caroline Krause Hollister and many nieces and nephews, as well as cousins throughout the Monadnock Region.

His brother Leonard Holden Krause died in 1989.

SERVICES: Calling Hours will be at the Cournoyer Funeral Home, 33 River Street (Rt. 202) in Jaffrey on Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be on Friday at 10 a.m. in the United Church of Christ in Central Square, Keene, with a reception following in the Parish Hall. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Camp Takodah at the Cheshire County YMCA, P.O. Box 647, Keene 03431.