Greater Jefferson County Foundation announces new scholarship opportunity

The Greater Jefferson County Foundation has announced the creation of a new scholarship opportunity.

Dale D. Kraus, former Fairfield resident, has established the Kraus Family Scholarship in memory of those family members that lived in the Jefferson County, Iowa from 1980 through 2005, both currently living and deceased. They include Julie (Kraus) Luedtke, Daniel D. Kraus, Jennifer (Kraus) Kearney (d), Susan L. Kraus (d), and Dale D. Kraus. This scholarship will be available for disbursement in 2024.

Julie, Daniel, and Jennifer all graduated from Fairfield High School and graduated from the University of Iowa with honors. Julie lives with her family in Waynesboro, VA and is employed as a school audiologist. Daniel is an acclaimed writer of novels and a film maker living with his wife in Evanston, IL. Jennifer was a chemical engineer employed by the pharmaceutical company Merck and she was also a private photographer until her untimely death in 2023. She also lived with her family in Waynesboro, VA.

Susan L. Kraus, wife and the devoted mother of Jennifer, Daniel, and Julie, was employed at the Fairfield Veterinary Clinic in Fairfield, IA until her death in 2005. Dale grew up on a dairy farm in southern Illinois. He earned degrees from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in Forestry and Michigan State University in Resource Development.

He was employed by US Department of Agriculture (USDA) most of his career in southeast Iowa where Dale assisted rural communities, cities, counties, and businesses in various capacities with planning, securing technical assistance and securing funding for a wide variety of community and rural development projects. He retired from USDA in 2004.

He is retired and now lives with his current wife Mary Jo Kraus in Kalona, IA. Throughout his life he has served in a variety of volunteer capacities, has been active in local Christian churches where he has lived, enjoys the outdoor, landscaping, and supports various conservation initiatives. Dale served on the Board and as Treasurer of the Greater Jefferson County Foundation from 2006-2013.

The Kraus Family Scholarship will be an annual non-renewable scholarship for a graduating FHS Senior student who will be attending a duly credited Iowa based University, Community College, or Trade School. It has a wide-ranging criterion including the life-time interests and activities listed of the family members listed above.

For more information regarding scholarship opportunities with the Foundation, please email at gjcf0758@windstream.net, or visit our website at www.greaterjeffersoncountyfoundation.org.