KRAUS, Arnold Joseph “Arnie”

March 7, 1936 — March 28, 2024

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Arnold “Arnie” Kraus, who peacefully left us March 28, 2024, at the Mountainview Village Care Home in Kelowna, BC at the age of 88.

Arnold was born to Ignace and Annie Kraus on their farm near the town of Wakaw, Saskatchewan, on March 7th, 1936. He was the youngest of four brothers: Ernie, Herman and Richard. They lived on the farm until Arnold was the age of 6 when they moved onto an acreage in Wakaw where he finished his schooling through to graduation. Arnold spent his years growing up in Wakaw, helping on the family farm, fishing, playing hockey and baseball. Arnold loved music and played a number of instruments like the organ, piano, saxophone, and clarinet and spent many hours at Wakaw lake where he loved swimming at First Point.

Following high school, Arnold met his wife, Marjorie Anna Lee Taylor, at a dance in Wakaw in 1959, where she was working as a Lab and X-ray technician. That same year, they moved to Chilliwack, BC and were married. After 8 years of marriage, in the fall of 1967, they adopted their only son Jeff at the age of 3 months. Arnold found work in BC right away with the Department of Highway’s as a surveyor in the road building department and worked for them for 33 years, working his way up to roads manager before retiring in 1992. After his retirement from the highway’s, he hired on with Emcon Road Services as a project manager and worked for another 5 years before permanently retiring in 1997. During those years as his job required, Arnold and Marj moved to many different locations within BC, and they eventually ended up in Merritt, BC in the early 80s where they spent the remainder of Arnold’s career with the Department of Highway’s.

In 2005, after living in Chase and Armstrong, BC, they moved back to Wakaw for 17 years as Arnold greatly missed his remaining family there and being back on the prairies. In 2022, they again moved back to BC, this time Kelowna, to be closer to their son Jeff and his family. During these remaining years, Arnold enjoyed his trips to Tim Horton’s to visit friends and family, and he recently celebrated his 88th birthday and 65th wedding anniversary with Marj.

Arnold loved music, hunting, fishing and especially gardening as he never lost his Saskatchewan farming roots. Anywhere he lived, he always had a garden and always amazed friends and family with the quality of vegetables his gardens produced. Typical summers were spent fishing and camping throughout BC, and almost without fail, a yearly trip back to Wakaw and the prairies to visit family and friends.

Left to treasure his memory is his loving wife of 65 years Marjorie; son Jeff (Melanie); and two grandchildren Taylor and Trevor.

His life will be celebrated at a future date in Wakaw, SK.

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