Robert Stanton Krause

Published 10:53 pm Friday, May 12, 2017

It is a common expression for those in aviation that “God is my co-pilot.” Now God has a new co-pilot. Robert S. Krause of Columbus, N.C., formally of Pompton Plains, Franklin Lakes, Green Pond and Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J. took his final flight Monday, April 24, 2017 at the age of 95.

Born on July 15, 1921 in Hackensack, N.J. to Elizabeth and Stanton Krause, he was the older brother to Ensign Elmer B. Krause, USNR, lost at sea in 1944. He was the beloved husband of Elaine Van de Weghe Krause for 66 years until her passing in 2010 with a continued and expressed love for her the rest of his life.

Bob is survived by their sons, Ed Krause and his wife Jean of Mill Spring, N.C. and Dr. William Krause and his wife Sharon of Charlottesville, Va. He leaves six grandchildren: Robert Krause and his wife Katie of Flagstaff, Ariz.; Johnathan Krause of Lorton, Va.; Colin Krause and his wife Becca of Christiansburg, Va.; Paige Krause of Washington, D.C.; Charles Nodine of Clyde, N.C.; and Melissa Nodine Causby and husband Bradley of Valdese, N.C. He also leaves one great-grandson Emmett Krause of Christiansburg, Va. He is also survived by a cousin, Alice Mellen of Tinton Falls, N.J.; a brother-in-law, Aurele Van de Weghe and his wife Gwen of Paramus, N.J.; and two nieces and four nephews.

Bob grew up in Hackensack, graduated from Hackensack High School and then attended junior college. Coming from a long line of Naval officers dating back to 1814, Bob enlisted in the US Navy in April 1942 and entered the Civilian Pilot Training Program, continuing on to pre-flight school, primary, basic, and instrument flight training at NAS Pensacola, Fla. He went on to seaplane flight training in the OS2U (Kingfisher) and was commissioned as a naval aviator prior to going to primary flight instructor school. Knowing he was going to be stateside, he married Elaine Van de Weghe on February 12, 1944. He was another of the “Greatest Generation” of Americans who answered the call to defend his country in time of great need.

After his service, Bob used the GI Bill to obtain a law degree at the University of Minnesota while remaining in the Naval Reserves. In 1948, he returned to Hackensack to practice law. Bob Krause was a well-respected and excellent attorney. He was member of the American Bar Association, past president of the Bergen County Lawyers Club, trustee for the Bergen County Legal Aid Society, magistrate for the town of Rockleigh, school board attorney for Little Ferry and Upper Saddle River, borough attorney for Little Ferry, planning board attorney for Woodcliff Lake, Board of Adjustment attorney for Oakland, and prosecutor for Franklin Lakes.

He continued to practice law providing low cost legal advice and work to the residents of Cedar Crest Retirement Center until he moved to North Carolina in December 2015. Most importantly for all the civic organizations he belonged to, he offered legal and financial advice.

Scouting played a significant role in Bob’s life. During his youth he was a Sea Scout sailing the Hackensack River. In 1953 he was the scoutmaster for the North Bergen County Council’s Troop 23 and took the troop on a cross-country trek via train, while visiting numerous national parks en route to the national jamboree in Irvine, Calif. With two sons, he became cub master for Pack 158 and scoutmaster for Troop 158 in Ho-Ho-Kus and, after moving to Franklin Lakes in 1963, for Troop 34.

Skiing was also one of his favorite past times. On their second date in 1941, Bob and Elaine went skiing with the Ski Club of New Jersey. They both were active members in the SCNJ for the rest of their lives and both skied well into their 80s. They started their children skiing at early ages and took them skiing in the Catskills and New Hampshire’s White Mountains and Mt. Tremblant, Quebec. For years they traveled on the SCNJ’s trips to Europe and the western states. Bob served as president, lodge chairman, legal and financial adviser to the club.

In 2001, they moved into the new Cedar Crest retirement community in Pompton Plains. Typical of Bob’s spirit of service to his community, he was the first Chair of the active Resident’s Advisory Council, and later became the first resident to sit on the Board of Directors of the Erickson Corporation which owned Cedar Crest.

With increasing health issues and concerns, he moved to Tryon Estates in Columbus, N.C. to be closer to his son Ed in December 2015. At his new home in North Carolina he played bridge, took part in in the Aviation Group and volunteered at the WNC Air Museum in Hendersonville. He enjoyed all the cultural events in the area.

For the past 15 years he enjoyed going to WWII events and air shows telling folks about his experiences during the war. On a number of occasions he had opportunities to fly in some of the War Birds he flew in the Navy. He never lost his piloting skills as his son Bill, a private pilot, always took him up flying during his visits to Virginia. As in his daily life, he always flew straight, level and on course.

A memorial service will be held at Tryon Estates, Columbus, N.C. on May 28, 2017 at 2 p.m. for his friends and family there. A July service is being planned in New Jersey for all his New Jersey family, friends and acquaintances.

In lieu of cards and flowers, donations can be sent to the Tourettes Syndrome Association of NY, PO Box 1251, Marlton, NJ 08053; Port O’Plymouth Museum (USS Southfield/William B. Newman exhibit), 302 East Water Street, Plymouth NC 27962; the Military Aviation Museum (OS2U Restoration Project), 1341 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23457; the Western North Carolina Air Museum, 1340 Gilbert Street, Hendersonville, NC 28793; or the charity of your choice.

An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.