Then Chair-elect Krause’s gift inspired by estate planning and investing in the future of funeral service
Brookfield, Wis. – The Funeral Service Foundation was honored to receive a generous one-time gift of $100,000 from then Foundation Chair-Elect Mark Krause in support of the Foundation’s mission to uplift grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.
As a fourth-generation funeral director, Mark Krause has been in funeral service since 1976 and was recently president of Krause Funeral Homes and Cremation Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating four funeral homes that serve over 1,900 families annually. After partnering with Foundation Partners in 2022, Krause became their vice president of industry relations and government affairs.
“Funeral service has been good to my family over the past 90 years,” Krause stated, “This gift is a way to give back and to invest in the future. What we as a profession do matters – we need a vision for the future, and we must deliver it somehow. I think the Funeral Service Foundation is a great way to make that happen.”
Mark Krause carries ceremonial check onstage at 2023 NFDA International Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Krause presented a ceremonial check representing his Foundation contribution at the NFDA International Convention and Expo General Session in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, September 11. In his remarks, he issued a challenge to funeral homeowners in the tightly packed audience.
“As you look at your life and career, think about estate planning, and think about the Funeral Service Foundation when you do that. So often people, even when we’re funeral directors and we’ve done this our whole lives, don’t think about that. But think about how funeral service has been good to you; think about the memorials at funerals,” Krause said. “My own uncle – who I bought my business from – just died. The Foundation was near and dear to his heart. So that’s what I’d like to challenge you with, and I couldn’t be more honored to have given my gift to the Foundation.”
Serving on the Funeral Service Foundation Board of Trustees since 2018, Krause was elected to Executive Committee as Chair-Elect for the 2022-23 Term and transitioned to Foundation Chair for 2023-24 at the September 9 Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Mark’s commitment to the Foundation – through his generous gift of resources and time – is representative of his character and deep care for the profession,” said Jedd Lapid, executive director of the Funeral Service Foundation. “He continues a rich history of leadership committed to advancing funeral service and we are fortunate and grateful for both his expertise and investment in the Foundation.”