CARMEL – Joseph Krauter Jr., our beloved “Opa,” reached out for the hand of God and left this earth and his large loving family for his place in eternity Nov. 30, 2015. He was born July 28, 1929, in Milford, to Joseph and Jeanetti Darkwood Krauter. On July 5, 1952, he married Anneliese “Lee” Wiegand, who survives after 63 years of marriage. He had a typically “American Gothic” childhood growing up on a farm in northern Indiana, the youngest and only boy of seven children. Growing up in Kosciusko County, he played basketball and was the star center of the Sidney High School basketball team, graduating in 1947. During this time, he also played the clarinet and was a member of “The Sentimental Seven” dance band. He subsequently attended and graduated from the Logansport Business School. After working for the Sidney Elevator Company several summers, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in August 1950. In December 1951, he was shipped overseas and stationed at Rhein/Main AFB, Frankfurt, Germany. He met his wife in the little Bavarian village of Attenkirchen after being introduced by an Air Force buddy, Fred Wiegand, whose parents and sister just happened to live in Germany in a rural area just north of Munich, close to where Freddy was stationed at a radar site. Joe accepted an invitation to come for a weekend and meet the family and on March 8, 1952, Joe and Lee met. In an instant it was “love at first sight.” The courtship began and they were married by the local buergermeister (mayor) four months later.Joe served out his tour of duty, rotated and was honorably discharged Nov. 26, 1953. He took his bride back home to Indiana to meet his family. Joe worked for the F.S. Royster Guano Co., Lyon Metal Products Inc., and partnered in A/C Shelving and Locker Co., before starting his own business in the basement of their home in 1964. Krauter Equipment Company was born as were four sons. He belonged to the Columbia Club (32 years), the American Legion (53 years), the Indiana German Heritage Society, First Trinity Lutheran Church and Carmel Lutheran Church. His entire life was dedicated to his family and his business family. He provided for all of them. Loving, caring, husband, father, brother, uncle and true friend – he had it all covered. He was one of a kind, loved so much, missed even more. Also surviving are his 92-year-old honky-tonk piano playing sister, Jean; J. Christian (and spouse M.J.), Erick A. (and spouse Haleh), Kurt O. (and spouse Risa) and Karl F. (and spouse Michelle); 17 grandchildren: Sam (and spouse Lyndsay), Anna, Raphael, Emily, Elle, Devin, Nickolas, Casey (and spouse Lauren), Nicole (and spouse Dominic), Kelly, Kevin, Katie, Courtney, Michael, Chase, Ashton, Elia; two great-grandchildren, Jude and Miriam; many nieces, nephews and cousins by the dozens who will miss their beloved Uncle Joe. On the third day after Joe’s death, Miriam was born. Preceding him in death are five sisters: Gladys, Bernice, Frances, Helen and Genevieve. A graveside service with military honors will take place at Washington Park East Cemetery. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Carmel Lutheran Church, 4850 E. 131st St., Carmel. A memorial service will be from 11 a.m. to noon. You are invited to stay for lunch. ***** Memorials to the Building/Fund Carmel Lutheran Church, Lutherwood (The Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services), The Wheeler Mission or Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Condolences via www.flannerbuchanan.com
