On July 22, 2024, Paul L. Kraus took his final breath at the side of his beloved wife, Jane (née Etling). Paul embodied love, humor, spirituality, and learning. He dedicated his life to his family, his role as a teacher and volunteer, as well as making his family smile. He was a dedicated and loyal husband to Jane for nearly 44 years and father to Linsey (David) Smith, Emily, and Anne (Becky Biermann) Kraus. One of his favorite roles was grandfather to Mae and Noah Smith, and Millie and Morgan Kraus-Biermann.
Paul was born and raised in South City, St. Louis to Lambert and Marie Kraus. As a child he was often found shooting hoops or terrorizing neighbors. He loved spending time and wrestling with his brothers Tony and Rich. He spent his highschool years on the basketball court and in the hallways of Prep South High School where he formed many lifelong friendships. He went on to Cardinal Glennon and Kenrick seminary where he developed his appreciation for faith, philosophy, goodness, truth and beauty. Close to ordination he finally came to terms with his desire to become a teacher and have a family and left the seminary to do just that.
Paul met Jane as she watched him play basketball games for Prep South. They spent their honeymoon in Destin, Florida which became an annual vacation destination for their family. As newlyweds, they ran together, and as their family grew they continued to share a love for fitness, spiritual devotion and family. They loved planning vacations for their family; showering them with food, games and quality time at the ocean. In retirement, they traveled the world together. Paul shared that Jane was the love of his life and whenever she came home from work, he encouraged his children to clap for her saying, “Let’s hear it for Janie.”
He was a high school religion teacher for over 40 years and spent most of those years at Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School, leading students in faith formation and community service. He brought Team Activities for Special Kids (T.A.S.K.) to CBC and led summer camps for youth for over 20 years. He facilitated community service opportunities for students to St. Augustine soup kitchen, drove a food bus to those with food insecurities in East St. Louis, started the Big Brother program at CBC, and tutored students at De La Salle Middle School. Bringing his daughters with him to service sites since elementary school inspired them all to pursue careers in education and service to others. In his retirement he got involved with Kairos Retreats for the Potosi Inmates. From there he completed weekly visits to inmates in solitary confinement and came to see the saving Grace of God in all human beings.
He was known to be playful, carefree, and a gentle soul. He could talk for hours about his daughters or grandchildren. He made everyone he met feel seen and important. The list of nicknames he had for his friends and family was endless, evolving and sometimes puzzling. He never tired of sharing resources, making connections between people he knew and telling stories. He was generous with affirmations and quick to accept people. Anyone who knew him, was a friend of his. While he was full of wisdom and jokes, one of his favorites was, “Joy shared is doubled, sorrow shared is cut in half.” We will miss you, Pepe Kid.
Celebration of life will be Saturday July 27, 2024 at St. Pius V Catholic Church, 3310 S. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63118. Visitation will be from 10:00 am- 12:00 pm with the funeral following at 12:00 pm. Paul will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery at a Later Date.
In lieu of flower please send donations to T.A.S.K, Team Acitivities for Special Kids https://www.taskstl.org/Donate/Make.a.donation/index.html , CBC High School https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp6360d78427edb/user/guest, or BJC Hospice https://www.bjchospice.org/Donate
Mr. Kraus was one of my favorite teachers at CBC. In school, I was lucky to spend many times with him serving the poor & caring for the less fortunate. He made the world a better place & I came to consider him a dear friend. Through the life lessons he taught me & countless others, his legacy will live on forever as we pass along those teachings & values to future generations.
So sorry to see that Paul passed, condolences to his family. Paul’s daughter Anne played basketball for me in grade school when I got to know him, he was a loving father and wonderful gentleman. He always had a kind word and a smile, God rest his soul!
Paul was a good friend of mine all thru grade school at St Stephen’s Protomartyr and my best friend in 8th grade. He lived not more than a 5-Iron away across Grand Ave. He was always the best athlete in our class particularly in basketball. For me, he always embodied the concept of the Man in Full – intelligent, athletic, interested, curious, kind, commonsensical, mature and spiritual. I’m glad we we able to reconnect after many years.
Rest In power!
Rest in peace Mr. Kraus thank you for your wonderful example. Your compassion and empathy for all people and your courage to serve left a huge impact on me
Mr. Kraus, I will always cherish your stories in our religion classes and feeding the less fortunate. You are one of the main reasons why I chose to be a teacher. I pray that you,Brother Dan, and Brother Mario watch over me as I try to be an example of Christ to our CBC students as you were for Kevin, Mike, Don, and Paul Fitzpatrick (84, 86, 88, & 96).
Much love and prayers to your family and all those hearts you touched in your loving care.
So sorry to hear of Paul’s passing. I was privileged to spend time with Paul just a few days ago…talking about Kairos…and his utter sense of peace, calm, and universal love was/is inspiring, and will live on. We should all take note in our lives. Thanks Jane and family for continuing sharing Paul.
Paul was a great man. I loved coaching basketball with him at Task and talking with him about life. He was a joy to be around.
Rest in peace. God’s blessing to the family.
Paul Kraus was simply a wonderful human being. He was two years ahead of me in the seminary. As his obituary says so eloquently, Paul was smart, handsome, funny, gentle, loving, friendly, attentive like you were the most important person in the world to him at the moment, a great athlete and role model. If anyone is destined for Heaven, it would be Paul Kraus.
Rest in peace dear cousin. You always had a smile on your face and a kind word to share. You will be missed!
I am so sorry to hear about Paul. . He always had a hug and kind words to say whenever we would see each other. You will be missed dear cousin.
Mr. Paul, it was a profound honor to know and learn from you. Your presence was a true gift to this world, with a heart larger than life itself. I will forever cherish the conversations and memories we shared at TASK and CBC Camp, as well as the evening Emma and I spent with you and Mrs. Kraus. One particular memory that now brings a smile to my face is when Biscuit fell on top of me—you rushed into action, ensuring I was okay.
Words cannot fully capture how incredible you were; you truly were one of a kind, Mr. Paul. Thank you for being such a remarkable mentor and friend.
Sending love, thoughts, and prayers to your family and all those whose lives you have touched over the years.
Paul was a special gift to all who knew him and those he helped. He worked with kids at TASK (a sports organization that works with special needs kids). My grandson met him there. Paul was with him when he caught his first fish, when he played basketball, and introduced him to horses. When my grandson was asked to give a short speech at the TASK Gala, he wanted Paul by his side. We all have lost a special friend.
Paul was an empathetic leader who touched the hearts of many CBC young men. His spirit lives on through those countless students whose lives have been so wonderfully impacted by him
I was honored to have been a student of his back in the late 80’s at CBC.. He was a great man who inspired many young men like myself through the Christ like way he lived his life.
Paul lived a wonderful life.. We are so sad that it was cut short by this terrible disease.
Paul was a man of faith, compassion and humanity. He greatly loved God and his family.
Whenever we got together, I enjoyed talking to Paul about our childhood memories. Especially our good times at the “clubhouse”.
Paul will be missed by all that knew him. Rest in peace cousin.
Paul was a very kind neighbor who always shared that beautiful smile. I know that smile will live on in you Jane. We will all miss him, but I know you will miss him most. You always have your neighbors to talk to. We loved Paul, and we love you.
See you soon
Your Court Drive Neighbors
Each time we visited with Paul, we felt his kindness and warmth.
What a special person he was and what a special life he led!
Our deepest respect and condolences to all the Krauses.
God bless.
What a beautifully written tribute to Paul. Even within the sadness of hearing about Paul’s passing, a smile and a special sense of warmth came. To know Paul, was to love him. We came to know Paul through TASK where his kindness, caring and compassion was present whenever he was in the room, or on the field, or in the TASK gym. Thank you Paul for your warmth and the special way you made us all feel. We are all the better for having known you.
My son has participated in TASK for many years and Paul has always been the most outstanding, patient, kind guide for our children with disabilities. His genuine enjoyment for his volunteer work shone through and he made a lasting impact on us. He has touched many lives in a very meaningful way.
Paul was one of a kind. He spoke from the heart. Truly a compassionate and kind human being. It was an honor to be one of his nurses. I always looked forward to our visits. He was a wonderful story teller, an excellent conversationalist and a beautiful soul.
With much love and gratitude,
Sara Stopke
He was my St Paul…only wish I had known him much earlier! Thanks Paul for driving our Rural Parish Clinic dental van and our conversations during those trips.
I was very saddened to read about Paul’s passing and touched by the wonderful eulogy posted at Kutis. Although we briefly crossed paths a couple of times as adults, I recall Paul mainly from battling him in high school basketball, when I recall him being an honorable and very capable opponent. Like his brother Tony, he was a tough competitor and gentleman. I extend my deepest condolences to his entire family.
I am so sad to think that my friend Paul is no longer with us! But I also feel it is important to take this as an opportunity to celebrate a fine man, who lived his life well. He was some of God’s finest work and a true shining star in our troubled world!
Paul was an outstanding LaSallian teacher, family man, philosopher, intellectual, and life-long learner. He was a story teller, well read, fun, funny, wild and crazy, a lover of sports and athletic. He was so accepting of others and their differences and uniqueness. He was a spiritual man, a man of prayer and contemplation. He was above all a man of action! His service to the poor and disenfranchised and those living on the margins is legendary! He even found time to add prison ministry to his resume in recent years and to no one’s surprise he was a big hit!
So yes, I am incredibly sad to let go of a good friend and I will miss him terribly! But I feel even more thankful and blessed by the gift he was in my life and all that he taught me!
I had the privilege of serving as a volunteer and head counselor at T.A.S.K. when I met Paul. He was a perceptive leader and an inspiring evangelist, guiding us volunteers with a blend of authority and gentleness. It was heartwarming to see all the young men admiring Paul as he taught. I will keep his family in my prayers.
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
Jane and Family I am so sorry for your loss of one the best
Human beings to ever walk this earth. Great husband, father,
Grandfather and cousin to so many. Loved to watch him and his
Brother Tony go at together on the basketball court at CBC on
New Years Day. We need more people on this earth like Paul to
Show us the right path in our lives. One of a kind.
But he’s looking down and will watch over all of us especially his family. God Bless you all.
Very sad to hear of Paul’s passing. I knew Paul through CPOP. We played basketball together and adversarily for many years. He was a great athlete, a great competitor, and a really great guy, as many of these comments attest. RIP my friend.
Jane & Family:
My deepest condolences to all of you! I have a lot of great memories with Paul & your family. He was one of Andy’s best friends since their High School years at Prep South!,. A totally AWESOME man that I had the pleasure to know in my lifetime. ❤️. Paul was in our Wedding Ceremony in 1976, so we go back a long way ❤️ I just learned of his recent passing., beautiful testimony to his life in the obituary that I found today! I’ll never forget him & his celestial body conversations! 😂😩
My thoughts& prayers are with all of you! RIP Paul🙏🙏🥰p