Rosemary Kraus, age 92, of Ellis, Kansas passed away quietly on December 12, 2019 in Ellis.
Rosemary was born in Floresville, Texas on September 19, 1927 to Thelma Manis and Carl Duncker. She lived and attended school in Leander, Texas until the building of the new dam and reservoir forced her father to relocate his farm. He chose to return to his birthplace near Ford, Kansas and she attended high school there. She attended Fort Hays State College for two years, where she met Warren Kraus. They began a marriage which lasted 71 years until his death in April. She was his partner in farming. She helped with the planning, moved equipment from one field to another, and ran errands to pick up parts for repairs. When he needed to work late during harvest or other busy times, she prepared hot meals for him and his workers and brought them to the field. She was a wonderful cook, known for her pies, fried chicken and pot roasts.
Rosemary was also an accomplished professional seamstress. She enjoyed creating custom-made clothing for her family and others in the Hays community and students at the college. One of her specialties was wedding and bridesmaid dresses. She was very creative, meticulous, and must have tried her hand at almost every craft possible. She and Warren enjoyed drives and trips with family, square dancing, gardening and playing bridge with friends. They were members of the Hays UMC and then Ellis UMC.
She is survived by her daughter and husband, Sheila and Michael Phillips, a grandson and his wife, Mark Craig and Sarah Braunstein and two great-grandchildren.
Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, Warren, a daughter, Nancy Kraus, and two sisters, Carlene Hawks and Ruth Nell Fravel.
Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, December 29, 2019 at the Hays United Methodist Church. She was buried with roses at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Ellis on December 16, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to either church or to the Alzheimer’s Association – alz.org.
Arrangements in care of Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at keithleyfuneralhomes.com