Obituary
It is with great sadness and greater love that we announce the passing of Melvin Earl Krause on August 8, 2021.
Mel is survived by his partner Duane Shave; sons Blake (Christina), Colton (Mandi), Trevor (Chrissi) and their mother, Gail; sister and brothers Lenore, Albert (Sara), and Kelvin; grandchildren Bailey, Gaven, Paisley, Catherine, Walker, Kerrin, Jacob, and Ensley; and many other family members and friends. Mel was predeceased by his father Earl, his mother Lillian, an infant brother, and an infant son.
Mel was born on January 15, 1954 in Camrose. He spent his childhood working on the family farm that his father had just begun. In school, Mel was a strong student and near the end of high school he got a job working at the Rose Haven facility. It was there that Mel was sparked to work in mental health and before long, he applied to the Psychiatric Nursing Program in Ponoka.
Mel spent the next fifty years in Ponoka where he worked at Alberta Hospital Ponoka (currently the Centennial Centre for Brain Injury and Mental Health). He spent his time primarily as a psych nurse and then as a patient care manager. During his time as a manager Mel was known to be an excellent leader who cared deeply for the patients and his staff.
More than his career, Mel loved his family. The boys kept the family extremely busy. Their evenings and weekends were filled with camping, sports tournaments, farm trips, and the occasional alien hunt. Mel loved woodworking and would often create beautiful gifts for family and friends. He was also famous for his cooking, especially his macaroni and shrimp salad.
In the last ten years Mel met his love, Duane, and they had begun to travel. They enjoyed trips to the mountains, Cuba, and British Columbia. He retired and began a lovely rose garden in his yard. During this time his health began to fade, but he still made time for his grandchildren and remained very proud of the men his sons had become. Those who knew Mel, knew him to be a prankster, quiet but quick witted, and incredibly stubborn. He remained so until the end as he battled through repeated surgeries and cancer treatments, and even had some jokes in his last days at the U of A hospital.
Mel is greatly loved and remembered. He is missed by all who knew him.
A Funeral Service and Celebration of Mel’s Life will be held at the Ponoka Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 16, 2021 with a Memorial Reception to follow. The family Interment Service will take place later that day at the Bittern Lake Rosenroll Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melvin Earl Krause, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Melvin Earl Krause January 15 1954 August 8 2021 (age 67)..
Death notice for the town of: Wetaskiwin, Province: Alberta