Gordon Charles “Mike” was welcomed into the world by parents Eldon and Luella (Weltz) Krause on September 25, 1937. Mike was the middle child, between older sister Ruth and younger sister Jean. The Krause family lived in Vesta until they moved to Chesley in 1946. Mike attended Chesley Public School and never attended high school.
Instead, he began working at the Chesley Chair Factory, which became Heirloom and is now known as Crate Designs. He also assisted his dad at his auto body shop, Eldon C Krause’s Welding Shop. Mike helped with painting, welding, and many other tasks that needed to be completed, and took it over after his father’s passing. Many locals and the Municipality would bring old lawnmowers to the shop for Mike to fix as well. Mike also worked for Jim Siegrist doing photography.
Mike and a friend were out for a drive one day when they saw two women on the sidewalk, so they pulled over and asked if they needed a ride. One of the women was Marguerite Jane Becker, and Mike and Marguerite hit it off immediately. The four of them went to the drive-in in Hanover. Shortly after, Marguerite had a knock at her door, and it was Mike to pick her up and take her on another date. The two fell in love and were married on July 3, 1965, at Evangelical United Brethren Church by Rev. Brown, assisted by Rev. Bruce. Mike and Marguerite spent their honeymoon in Wiarton for the first night and then continued to Tobermory, caught the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and went to Sault Ste. Marie in Canada and the US, and then finished in Niagara Falls.
As newlyweds, they lived above the bakery in Chesley, and there they brought home their first daughter Cathy in 1968. Three months later, they moved to their current home in Chesley and made their family complete with the arrival of Carla in 1972. In fact, on the way to the hospital to have Carla, it was 3 a.m. in the middle of a snowstorm, and got stuck three times, but thankfully made it to the hospital okay!
Mike enjoyed taking the girls to the auto body shop with him and helping to paint the cars. He was a jack of all trades, having the ability to fix anything and everything, even things that were “unfixable” to others. If it didn’t work, he would take it apart, figure out why it didn’t work, and find a solution to fix it. As you can imagine, Mike had many tools, almost too many! He made his own tools if needed, and also made jewellery boxes and baby cradles for his kids and grandkids. Mike made bird knockers and collected model train sets.
Mike and Marguerite enjoyed camping together in Parry Sound and out west. He liked watching Dukes of Hazard and criminal shows and listening to country and western. When it came to food, he would eat anything that Marguerite put in front of him! Apparently, Mike made the best porridge in the winter, and no one made porridge-like him! Mike was a member of the Chesley Lions Club, and the CB club associated with the Lions. He was a Legion member in Hanover for 25+ years and with the Search and Rescue committee.
Mike was patient and would help anyone that needed it. The best way to describe Mike is through the words of the song “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” by Tracy Lawrence that are:
You find out who your friends are
Somebody’s gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think “What’s in it for me?”
Or “It’s way too far”
They just show on up
With their big old heart
You find out who your friends are
Mike passed away at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley, on Thursday, June 13, 2024, in his 87th year.
Beloved husband of Marguerite (Becker) for almost 59 years. Loving father of Cathy Krause (Herb Dawdy) of Chesley and Carla (Len) Friest of Harriston. Cherished grandfather of Ashley (Jeff), Brittany, and Dorian (Emma), great-grandfather of 5, and step-grandfather of Tasha Mitchell-Grimwood and family. Dear brother of Ruth Seip of Chesley and brother-in-law of Nora (Mike) Banks of Hanover. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his sister Jean (Ron) Wright, his brother-in-law Gerald Seip, and his parents Eldon and Luella (Weltz) Krause.
Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 7 – 9 p.m., and on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from noon until the time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. Interment in Chesley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
