William Kraushaar (Bill to most but Opa to his family), 78, passed away on February 1, 2023 in Miami, FL. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elke (Oma), his 3 children Sylvia, Vera and Jeff, 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Opa was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and son. Although he wasn’t a man of many words, he was a man of memorable ones. To know Opa was to know one of his infamous quotes. Though it would be impossible to fully express all that we knew and loved about him in a few short paragraphs, I hope only to do a job he might deem “terribly good.”
Born in Alton, IL in 1944, Opa started his early life on a farm, but left at a young age to enlist in the Army. During his time in the military, he was stationed in Germany where he met Oma and began a family. Life after the military took Opa and his family to Miami where he started a long and loyal 41 year career with Publix in the meat department. He took great pride in his job and the company and we all grew up knowing that at Publix, “shopping is a pleasure.” Even after retirement it wouldn’t be odd to find him poking around a Publix meat freezer to make sure standards were being maintained. In addition to work, Opa was very involved with the German American Social Club where he and Oma led the folk dance group for many years. He loved his evenings at “the club” and it still feels like an extended part of our family. Time on that dance floor has been sacred and a generational rite of passage to all of us. Opa also served faithfully at his beloved church, St. Paul Lutheran, another piece of this family’s heart. After retirement he volunteered for 10 years at South Miami Hospital.
Opa was generous, loving, hard working and a cornerstone of this family. We will miss his wit. We will miss his check-in phone calls. We will miss seeing him cleaning his pool while blaring country music. He showed us the value of hard work, consistency, diligence, showing up and doing what needs to be done. He lived modestly himself but gave generously to the rest of us. We are thankful he is in his eternal home with Jesus, yet we will all continue to carry his legacy with us.
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