Roxane Marie Kraus, 61 of Minatare, Nebraska passed away on Friday July 14, 2023 with her family by her side from a long, hard, fight with cancer.
She was born to Frank and Mary Lou (Sindelar) Rydl on January 15, 1962. She lived in a house her father built on the family farm near Lake Minatare, where she resided until her passing. In Roxane’s childhood years, her and her three sisters helped take care of their farm with her father and mother. Some of the memories she had from her childhood were butchering chickens, cows and pigs. She loved riding horses with her school friends and jumping in the high line during hot summer days to cool off. She would go polka dancing with her father and mother whenever they had a chance.
Roxane began her school life in Highland School where she graduated with high honors. Next, she attended Minatare High School where she participated in many activities, which included volleyball and track. Later in life, Roxane attended Western Nebraska Community College to extend her knowledge of the computer programs she worked with.
Roxane worked for the Flame Lounge in Melbeta, Nebraska for several years before moving on to better things. She then worked for Cross Mark, setting up displays in Home Depot, until the company changed hands, and she started traveling in the fall, setting up Christmas trees in different cities for the new company that had taken over.
Roxane married Darrell Kraus on April 4, 1995, and they had their daughter Akacia Kraus. Roxane was busy with all her daughter’s activities. In 2001, she coached soccer and continued coaching soccer for five years. When her daughter was growing up, Roxane would help with all her daughter’s 4-H events. During 4-H, she would help her daughter sew outfits, and model those outfits, bake cookies and cakes, garden, and raise lambs, rabbits and chickens.
She raised lambs for the fair and began to birth lambs during the month of January when it was below zero. For 10 years, she helped in all the 4-H shooting sports for bb gun, air rifle, 22 rifle, bow and arrow and shot gun. Roxane would travel all over the valley and state to support her daughter in these events.
Roxane Kraus loved horses and would raise and train them. At one point, she had 15 horses. She also loved cats. One time, she found a baby cat in Fort Collins and brought it home and raised it.
Roxane grew her garden every year because she loved fresh vegetables and the joy it brought to her. The same could be said about the many flowers she grew each year. She loved to be out at the lake camping, jet skiing, and boating. Another hobby she had was crocheting blankets and other things.
She is survived by her husband Darrell Kraus, daughter Akacia Kraus, Roxane’s sisters Judy Bangeter (Ted), Mary Ann Finken(Denny) and Lorelei Deming (Steve) and all their children, Darrell’s brother Larry Kraus (Diane) and their children.
She is preceded in death by her father Frank Rydl, mother Mary (Sindelar) Rydl, grandparents Louis and Mary Sindelar and Harry and Lydia Kraus and brother-in-law Denny Finken.
Her memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel. Memorials can be given to the family to be designated at a later date. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dugankramer.com