Marvin Krause

Marvin George Krause, 101, passed away September 23, 2025. He was born January 6, 1924 on a farm west of Buckeye, Iowa in Hardin County to parents Herbert and Margurette (Stone) Krause. Marvin’s education began in a country school house in Buckeye Township and graduated from Radcliffe High School in 1941. Marvin always had a great passion for all music. In 1942 and 1943 he performed locally with and wrote musical arrangements for the Ronnie Oswood Orchestra in Iowa Falls.

In 1944 Marvin was inducted into the United States Army at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota. He was selected to be in the 104th Army Ground Forces Band in Wiesbaden, Germany from 1944 to 1945. In 1945 and 1946 he was in The Eisenhower Headquarters Band and Orchestra in Frankfurt, Germany.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army on August 17, 1946, Marvin returned home and joined his father in farming the family homestead. He married Joyce Reisetter of rural Ellsworth on December 1, 1946. In 1949 Marvin and Joyce started their family when their first daughter, Marlene, was born.

The family moved to Des Moines in 1951 so Marvin could attend Drake University. In 1952 Marvin and Joyce welcomed their second daughter, Anita. In 1954 Marvin graduated with a major in Music Education, and a minor in Social Science.

From 1954 through 1957, Marvin taught instrumental music and American history in the Dallas Center Schools. Marvin and Joyce’s third daughter, Laura, was born in 1956.

The family then moved to Durant, Iowa in 1957, where Marvin taught instrumental music to elementary, junior high, and high school students. He also expanded the concert band, marching band, and stage band.

When the family moved to Carlisle, Iowa, Marvin taught instrumental music in the Carlisle Schools from 1964 until 1966. He was a member of the Des Moines Chapter of The Pride of Iowa Barbershop Chorus in Des Moines.

Marvin then left teaching and the family moved to Des Moines where he was employed by State Surety Insurance Company, Mallard Pharmaceutical Company and Duncan Sanitary Supply Company. In 1974, Marvin began working for the State of Iowa Department of Public Instruction as a vocational rehabilitation counselor until his retirement in 1988.

During his retirement, Marvin owned and managed his share of the family farm and invested in rental property in Des Moines. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines and was active in “Friendship Force International” and “The ‘76 Dance Club”. He traveled to Washington, D.C. on two Honor Flights for Veterans. He loved going to the annual Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival in Davenport.

With the assistance of the Iowa Genealogical Society, he traced the roots of his paternal grandfather, Hermann Krause, to Suckow, Germany (now Poland). Hermann immigrated to the United States in 1882. During his travels, Marvin visited the home in Suckow where his grandfather was born in 1859.

Marvin met Janet (Collins) Garrett at The Lake Robbins Ballroom at a ‘76 Dance Club” event in Woodward, Iowa. They were married on November 21, 1999. During the years they had together, Marvin and Janet participated in the annual R.A.G.B.R.A.I. bicycling event. In addition, they traveled to 15 foreign countries. Sadly, Janet developed pancreatic cancer and passed away on December 29, 2013.

Marvin is survived by daughters, Marlene, Anita, and Laura; grandchildren, Cathy (Brad), Lisa (Gentry), Stephanie (Dave), and Greg (Leslie); great-grandchildren, Brett, Taytum (Nick), Dexter (Josie), Violet, Hailee, Claire, and Brooklynn; great-great grandchildren, Melissa and Malcolm; one nephew; one great-nephew; stepchildren, Jennifer (Darin), Debbie (Bill), and Heidi (Ron); and several extended family members.

Marvin was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; his parents; grandparents; sister, Dorothy (Lee); nephew, Mike (Beverly); granddaughter, Melissa (Missy); and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friend, Joyce Krause Hughes.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Ave, Des Moines, Iowa. Family will also greet guests on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m prior to service beginning at 11:00 a.m. also at the church. Interment to follow at Radcliffe Cemetery in Radcliffe, Iowa.


Memorials can be made to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota or to The Iowa Genealogical Society in Des Moines

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