Stephen Holden Krause

Keene, New Hampshire

Stephen Holden Krause, born on September 23, 1953 in Washington, DC, moved to Jaffrey when he was a year old and lived at what is now Match Point. The youngest son of the late B. Leonard Krause and Helen Frances Bean and grandson of the late Ellen Holden and Delcie David Bean, Stephen attended Jaffrey Grade School, was a member of the towns Boy Scout Troop, the Babe Ruth League and the United Church of Jaffrey. While at Jaffrey Grade School he began a life-long love of music with the study of the French horn and trumpet. For several years he played the echo to the ceremonial taps at Veterans Day and Memorial Day observances in Jaffrey. He attended St. Pauls School in Concord from 1966 to 1972 where he played ice hockey, soccer, and tennis and continued his musical studies. During his St. Paul years he began his tournament tennis play in the annual Jaffrey Open Invitational Tennis Tournament and won numerous singles and doubles events.
Stephen majored in psychology at the University of New Hampshire where he met his future wife, Colleen OBrien who was then a Teaching Assistant in the department. After graduating in 1976, Stephen won the Mens Singles in the Jaffrey Open Invitational Tennis Tournament and, shortly thereafter, was elected to the General Court to represent Jaffrey and Rindge. Demonstrating a keen sense of politics and a passion for the field, Stephen was selected by Judd Gregg to be his first Campaign Manager. After a successful campaign, Stephen then went to Washington, DC to work for Congressman James Cleveland. He continued to be active in New Hampshire Republican Party affairs throughout his life. He campaigned vigorously for candidates at all levels of office and was a familiar figure at polling places at elections over the past 30 years.
Steve and Colleen married on July 13, 1980 and settled in Keene where he served as Executive Director of the Keene Chamber of Commerce. In 1984, Stephen joined the Jaffrey Fire Protection Company, a subsidiary of DD Bean and Sons, where he rose to the position of Vice President. In later years he became a director of DD Bean and Sons and served as Secretary, then Vice President and co-owner of the corporation.
Stephen was a long-time member of the Jaffrey Economic Development Commission, trustee and Vice President of The Park Theatre, a member of the Monadnock Region board of directors of the NH Charitable Foundation, and, for more than 15 years, director and Treasurer of the Cheshire County YMCA where he chaired the capital campaign for Camp Takodahs new Dining Hall. In addition to being an accomplished golfer, Stephen was also President of the board of directors of the Keene Racquet Club, started the first all-girl ice hockey team in Keene, coached boys and girls ice hockey, soft ball and t-ball, and played in the Keene and Jaffrey Open Invitational Tennis Tournaments. Stephen and his wife Colleen were Mixed Doubles Champions of the Keene Tennis Tournament in 1992 and 2007. He was co-captain of the United States Tennis Association Senior Mens doubles team that twice won first place in New England and advanced to the national events in Tucson, Arizona and Indian Wells, California.
Stephen was an avid gardener who took great pleasure in the gardens around his home in Keene. He grew tomatoes and raspberries and had several beds of cutting flowers, rhododendrons and lilacs.
Stephen is the cherished husband of 29 years to Colleen OBrien Krause, and beloved father of his son Nicholas OBrien Krause and daughters Caitlin OBrien Krause, Allison OBrien Krause and Kerry OBrien Krause. He will be greatly missed by his brother Charles Holden Krause, sister Caroline Krause Hollister and many nieces and nephews, as well as cousins throughout the Monadnock Region. His brother Leonard Holden Krause passed away in 1989.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Camp Takodah at the Cheshire County YMCA, PO Box 647, Keene, NH 03431.

Calling Hours will be at the Cournoyer Funeral Home Cremation Center, 33 River Street (Route 202)in Jaffrey on Thursday evening, October 15 from 6 to 9 pm.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 16 at 10:00 am at the United Church of Christ in Central Square, Keene with a reception following in the Parish Hall.