Darrel Krause

In the early morning hours of August 29, 2019 at the University of Colorado Hospital, Darrel Krause passed away peacefully at the age of 63 following a four-week hard-fought battle with an aggressive form of leukemia. He was comforted by the presence of his wife, Ginny; son, Landen; daughter, Sydney; as well as sister-in-law, Susan, at his side.

Born in Marion, KS, on January 31, 1956, Darrel was raised on the family farm in rural Lincolnville by his mother and father, Paul and Velma Krause along side his three brothers Gary (Deb), Dennis (Kiki), and younger brother Terry (Beth). Long before the sun hit the horizon, Darrel and his brothers were up every day hitting the farm chores before going to school. After evening chores, they often huddled around a small black and white television where they watched one of three TV stations that their antennae could pick up in rural Kansas.

Darrel graduated as Valedictorian and class president of Centre High School class of 1974, in rural Lincolnville and went on to attend Kansas State University. He finished his college career in 1978 with a degree in civil engineering and a life long love of K-State Wildcats football and basketball. From sweatshirts and baseball caps to grill covers and car mats, Darrel was famous for his extensive collection of purple and white K-State fan gear.

Following graduation, Darrel moved to Denver, CO where he began his career with the United States Bureau of Reclamation as a civil engineer at the Federal Center in Lakewood, CO. Throughout his career, he travelled to inspect dams, developed policy and procedures for maintenance of dams, and gave many workshops to engineers in the western region. Darrel was highly regarded and received numerous commendations throughout his career until his retirement in 2016.

While most young people starting out choose to live in rental properties, new college graduate Darrel had different ideas. Always a shrewd money manager, he purchased a house in Lakewood shortly after beginning his job at the Fed Center. Throughout his life, he had a passion for making every penny count and an eye for great deals (always the coupon cutter!). He proved to be a consistently good provider for his family.

Darrel met Ginny at a singles party in 1983 where their mutual interest in football led to their first date. They were married on June 15, 1985 and for the past 34 years have been blessed with a marriage filled with love, adventure, laughter, and faith.

Their son, Landen, came along in 1992 and daughter, Sydney, in 1995. Darrel took an active role in parenting from changing diapers to helping with homework. He took pride in watching and helping his kids grow and was supportive of their interests, often providing that gentle but firm fatherly push towards success.

Darrel coached Landen in baseball and basketball; and as Landen grew into high school, Darrel was an active participant his son's interest in Civil Air Patrol where they both enjoyed airplane rides and a ride in a Black Hawk helicopter.

Darrel attended numerous piano recitals, orchestra concerts, and Westernaires horse shows in support of Sydney's interests. Darrel even somewhat begrudgingly but with a sense of humor, became a University of Colorado Buffs fan while Sydney worked toward her bachelor's degree there.

Known for his dry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye, Darrel was honored at a retirement party of family and friends at which he was properly roasted and toasted, all in good fun. In recent years, Darrel enjoyed vegetable gardening, making beer at home, volunteering at his church, delivering flowers for Veldkamp's for special occasions, assisting Ginny and Susan with Flowers with Intention, playing fantasy football, and cheering on K-State, the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers (a team he adopted thanks to his Wisconsin-born wife). He was the first baseman on a retirees baseball team, enjoyed trips to Alaska and Canada to go salmon fishing, and relished many social gatherings with fellow retirees including the notorious KMA group.

He and Ginny took the trip of a lifetime last September – a10-day river cruise of France and Germany that began with three wonderful days in Paris. They have also enjoyed trips to Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, Niagara Falls as well as numerous vacations in their home states of Kansas and Wisconsin.

Never has it been more true to say that a light has gone out in the world than now. Darrel will be greatly missed by so many but particularly by his loving wife, son, and daughter, his brothers, nieces and nephews on the Krause side; and by his mother-in-law, Audrey Braatz, sister-in-law, Susan Keene, brothers-in-law, Mike Keene and Neal Braatz.

Please join the family for a Christian funeral and celebration of his life on Wednesday, September 4, at 11:00 AM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2100 Wadsworth Bouelvard, Lakewood, CO. A lunch of Darrel's favorite Kansas-style chili and cinnamon rolls will be served in the church commons following the service. Feel free to wear purple to honor his love of K-State.

Memorials can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the Kansas State University Foundation.

Please share your memories of Darrel and condolences with his family by signing the guest book below.

Celebration of Life: September 4, 2019 11:00 am

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
2100 Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado 80214