Obituary of John "Jack" Edward Krause

John (Jack) E. Krause Lt. Colonel USAF (Retired) Jack was born on January 30, 1932. He died in the comfort of his own home in Shelton on Monday, March 9. A memorial service will be held at St. David of Wales Episcopal Church on Wednesday, March 18 at 1:00 PM. Jack was the fifth of six children. He was a 1950 graduate of Mt. Clemens High School in Michigan where he served as a class officer, captained the football team, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. He earned a total of nine varsity letters in football, swimming, and track, and he was eventually inducted into the high school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. After high school, Jack entered West Point Military Academy in 1950. He savored military training and athletics. He earned a spot on the varsity football team and earned three varsity letters. From West Point, Jack realized his dream of entering the United States Air Force. He earned his pilot wings in 1955 and had a prolific career as an interceptor pilot, ground attack pilot, aide-de-camp, maintenance officer, and test pilot. He completed 150 special operation night interdiction missions in Laos flying the A-26K attack aircraft and was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses. His test flights carried him to Mach 2 speed over five dozen times. Jack retired from the Air Force in 1979. He himself led the four-ship formation of single engine jets in a flyby at his own retirement ceremony at McChord Air Force Base. After his retirement, Jack launched into a new flying career in general aviation, delivering American and British single and twin piston and turboprop engine light airplanes throughout the world. His travels took him to forty-six countries, five continents, and across both oceans, including eight solo flights across the Atlantic. He flew for commuter lines, freight companies, and he operated an air taxi service for dignitaries. He was eventually hired as a corporate pilot for a large Northwest company. Jack flew amphibious aircraft in the Alaskan bush while managing the company's private fishing lodge for thirteen summers. Upon retirement from corporate flying, Jack served as the Standards and Evaluation pilot for the Washington State Civil Air Patrol. Eventually Jack accumulated nearly 22,000 flying hours in over 100 models of aircraft doing what he loved. He was eventually awarded the “U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, Wright Brother’s Master Pilot Award" for his contributions to aviation. Jack was an active member of the Shelton Kiwanis Club and a life member of the American Legion, VFW, MOAA, Air Commando Association, and the Order of Daedalians. Jack was a long-time member of the Episcopal Church and would often say, “The Chief Pilot in the Sky has been very, very good to me." In lieu of flowers, Jack has requested memorial gifts be made to St. David of Wales Episcopal Church, 324 West Cedar/PO Box 339, Shelton, WA 98584. DUE TO EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON STATE RIGHT NOW, JACKS SERVICE HAS BEEN CANCELED.