Carole D. Krause

Carole Dianne (Frank) Krause, 88, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2025. She was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on August 16, 1936, to Bernard Frank and Garnet (Thomas) Frank. Carole was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Beverly, and her husband of 66 years, John Krause.

Carole spent her formative years in Kansas, graduating from North High School in Wichita in 1954. One of Carole’s favorite childhood memories was visiting her paternal grandparents’ farm with her sister. As an adult, she loved spending time with her children – and later, her grandchildren – visiting them as often as she could. Her favorite time of year was Christmas and the large family gatherings.

Carole enjoyed traveling, and visited many special places with family members, including Alaska and Hawaii, and Europe. In the 1990s, she made at least seven visits to England, touring much of Great Britain. Among the places she loved to visit over-and-again were Disney World in Orlando, and Biltmore House & Gardens in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Carole was an avid reader who cherished a good book. She built quite the library over the years. She loved spending time outdoors, whether she was walking, hiking, or sight-seeing. Her connection to nature dates back to her time as a Girl Scout, which she stayed involved with through high school.

It was during high school that Carole met her future husband, John. They married on January 22, 1957. After John graduated from Wichita State, they moved to the San Francisco area. From there, job opportunities took them to New Jersey, then Syracuse (NY), and Monroe, Connecticut. They moved to Lake Charles (IL) for a short time, before settling in Charlotte (NC) in 1988. They enjoyed life in Charlotte for 28 years, also spending time in Hilton Head (SC) – a place she enjoyed very much. In 2016, a few years after John retired, they moved to Oklahoma City.

Carole leaves her three children to cherish her memory: Mark (Linda) Krause of Louisiana, Terri (Greg) Hlubek of Oklahoma, and Bernie (Joan) Krause of South Carolina – and grandchildren Penny (Jake) Regier, Randy (Brittany) Hlubek, Josh Krause, Kelly Hlubek and Kristi Hlubek, along with four great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by extended family members and friends.

A private family service to celebrate Carole’s life will be held at a later date.