Henry Krause was born on April 12, 1925 to Henry and Anna Krause in Chicago, they lived on Sedgwick Street.
He lost his dad when he was only 3 and as a young adolescent, he started helping his mom support the family.
That was the start of a very hard working man. His family lived in an Italian neighborhood and his future wife
Dorothy Curcuro was a neighbor.
In 1943 when Henry turned 18 in his senior year in High School, he was drafted to the United States Army. After
boot camp was completed, he was sent overseas to prepare for the landing on the beach of Normandy, France on D-Day.
The German Measles kept him on the ship for an
additional two days and he missed the original landing. On the 3rd day, he landed on the beach of Normandy
where he saw nothing but horror. He spoke many times of walking over the bodies of Americans and British
as he worked his way to the wall that had to be climbed. He had many memories of World War Two. He was an infantryman
and told us many stories of how he fought and survived during that war. Some of his stories were our favorites and he told the
stories to each generation. For food, the soldiers were issued K-Rations and thick chocolate bars. He disliked the K-Rations and traded them for
the thick chocolate bars. He lined the pockets of his jackets with many of those chocolate bars.
He was injured twice but he didn't have a perfect recollection of the first injury. He remembed seeing a German tank approach
and when he awoke, he was in a fox hole and was injured. He was told he rolled into the fox hole after being shot and the tank
rolled over the fox hole. After he recovered from those injuries, he was sent back to the front lines. The second time he was wounded by a German grenade; the shrapnel was embedded in the chocolate bars in his chest and saved
his life. He had major injuries to his arms and legs but the chocolate saved him and the surgeons were amazed as to how
close that shrapnel had come to his heart. He was sent back to England, then back to the States where he recovered and
was soon honorably discharged from active duty. He received two purple hearts.
For many years, he would tell us the war stories. He spoke many times of how it bothered him to have killed so many
in the war, but he knew it was his job. He was very concerned that he would go to hell for all the killing. He asked me
many times if he would go to hell for what he did. It seemed to bother him the most in his last weeks. He asked me to
pray with him and ask God to take him to Heaven in spite of it all. These were some of the things he spoke of in his last 12
hours of his life?
In April 1945; Henry married his childhood sweetheart, Dorothy Curcuro. They were married for 48 years untill Dorothy died on
September 11, 1993. After the war, Henry came back to Chicago and was issued one of the first
Medallion Licenses for a cab which became the American United Cab Company in Chicago. He worked endless
hours on that cab while his family was growing and didn?t sell that cab until the 1990?s. He had 3 children, AnnaMarie, Joe and Carol.
He saw them grow and get married, giving him and Dorothy five Grandchildren and five Great-Grandchildren.
When Henry had cardiac bypass surgery at the age of 60, he retired. He enjoyed those retirement years and traveled and
found the fun of the casinos. He made numerous trips to Las Vegas and really enjoyed those golden years. After his health
started failing when he was 82, he moved in with his eldest daughter and son-in-law, AnnaMarie and Gary and
Great-Grandson David. He continued to enjoy casinos, but no longer was able to go to Las Vegas. He eventually was
content going as much as possible to the local Casino Boats. He was taken to those Casinos often by his Children, Granddaughter Sharon and his
Caregiver Anna. He truly loved the casinos and the fun of gaming.
His favorite pastimes in those final years were watching his favorite TV shows, such as War Movies, Mash, Hogans Heroes,
Westerns and the gaming shows. He also spent countless hours playing his favorite casino video games.
Even in his last days, he would reach for his casino game and would play.
In the last year of his life, his health and mind were failing, but he still loved life. Henry was fortunate to have a
wonderful and caring caregiver Anna, for the last 3 years. Anna cared for Henry as if he were her own father. They
shared good times together, such as going shopping, going to casinos, and playing endless card games together.
Anna was honored by being at Henrys side for most of the day only hours before he left us.
He loved his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. He grew very fond of his eldest Great-Grandson David, who was
instrumental in his care that last year. David would always joke with Henry and was always able to make him laugh. Even
when Henry wasnt feeling well, he always perked up for his beloved David. David was also honored to hold his
Grandpas hand in the hours before he died. AnnaMarie and Gary were also at his side in the hours just before
died in his sleep, peacefully and quietly only two hours after they left. Henry will be missed by all his family and friends.
Henry, Dad, Grandpa, Until We Meet Again....
...Rest In Peace...
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