Raymond Carl Krause, Jr.

Raymond "Ray" Krause peacefully went to be with the Lord August 17, 2016, at his home of forty-three years surrounded by family and caregiver. Born on July 24th, 1928, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Ray was the first of two children born to Raymond Krause, Sr., and Dorothy (nee Dautriek) Krause. Ray graduated from Grosse Pointe High School and later attended community college to study engineering. Ray's father and both grandfathers earned their livelihoods as engineers. They indulged personal talents as craftsmen and tinkerers in their basements and garages with young Ray hanging about observing their many projects. Ray's dad and his business partner combined engineering talents to invent the automated overhead garage door that is ubiquitous today. Ray launched his early career in sales and marketing in marine recreational boat sales. Through useful aptitudes and a gregarious personality, Ray earned the favor of mentors who shared with him their working knowledge in boating operations. When he saw opportunity emerging in the communications market, Ray launched a lifelong career in communications. His first opportunity came with landing a position in sales and marketing with Motorola. The next opportunity arrived in 1968 with CEC Bendix Marine Products. Ray served as Northcentral Regional Manager with overall marketing responsibility for an eleven-state area in developing sales for radar, autopilots, radio, telephones, depth sounders, and loran equipment product lines. The next opportunity developed with the RCA Commercial Communications Services. Ray served as Southeastern Regional Sales Manager for RCA's Mobile Systems Division. He was responsible for nine southern states, eleven direct technical and sales employees, and forty-five manufacturer representatives. Subsequently, Ray was appointed Southern Regional Sales Manager for RCA Americom Satellite Communications Services to business and industry in Texas and the Southeast. The career promotions with RCA resulted in Ray and his wife Jane being transferred to Duluth, GA. Ultimately, Ray retired from OKI Telecom from his position as Manager of Carrier Accounts. Ray was a lifelong member of the Radio Club of America, the Associated Public Safety Communications Officers and the Institute of electrical and electronics Engineers. Ray was a self-made, principled gentleman and an esteemed confidante. He was the person you would want invited to dinner parties. A quick wit who enjoyed a sense of humor and a spirited conversation on current events, Ray was intellectually curious, a loyal, kind, helpful, generous friend, colleague and neighbor. In his home and work communities, he was frequently sought out by others for his insights, knowledge, skills. Ray was preceded in death by his beloved best friend, partner and wife of nearly 40 years, Jane Carol (nee Lodewyk Stevens) Krause. Always endeared, esteemed, loved and missed by his daughters, Kimberly Krause, Alexis Krause Pooley, Mary Beth, Linda (Greg), Judy, and Carol Stevens; sister, Carol Chambliss; first wife, Josephine Mannino; brother-in-law, William (Bernice) Lodewyk; grandsons, Christopher, Ernest, Jamie (Ashley); granddaughters, Crystal (Patrick), Lindsey, and Elizabeth; nephews and nieces; great grandchildren; beloved friends, Ken (Connie) LaBenne, and Gerald (Joan) VanHorn; colleagues and neighbors. A Celebration of Ray's Life will be held on Sunday July 30, 2017, from 4pm until 7pm, with an 11am Memorial Service on Monday at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons Inc., 36900 Schoenherr Rd at Metro Parkway (16 Mile). Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com

Raymond Carl Krause, Jr.

July 24, 1928 - August 17, 2016