In the summer of 2022, the quiet life of Richard Lee Kraus, an 83-year-old male, came to a tragic end in Greeley, Colorado. On Saturday, July 2, 2022, he and his 80-year-old wife, Patricia Ann Kraus, were found deceased in their home. Their deaths were the result of gun violence in what authorities have described as a suspected murder-suicide.
Richard was born on July 30, 1938, in Bayard, Nebraska. For his entire working life, he was a dedicated employee of the Great Western Sugar Factory, a career that took him and his family to various states and locations. After decades of work, he retired in 2002. In his leisure time, Richard enjoyed playing golf, attending auctions, and woodworking. He also had a passion for collecting and scratch-building farm toys.
He and Patricia Ann Suhr were married on June 7, 1959, and together they had three children. Patricia was a creative individual with many hobbies, including crocheting, knitting, painting, sewing, and embroidery. She generously donated many of the baby blankets she made to local hospitals in Greeley.
The couple is survived by two of their children, nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held for them on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Greeley. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths has not led to the naming of any outside suspects, with the available information pointing towards a murder-suicide.
