OSWEGO -- Funeral arrangements for John Krauss, the retired WRVO General Manager who died on Monday, have been announced. Calling hours will be offered tomorrow and Saturday in Oswego, with a memorial service to immediately follow Saturday's calling hours.
Calling hours will be held Friday from 4-7pm at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home, 112 East Second Street, Oswego. On Saturday, calling hours will be held from 1-3pm at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 East Sixth Street, Oswego. Order of the Eastern Star, Masonic and memorial services will follow the Saturday calling hours. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Krauss' memory to the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory in Utica and to the WRVO Endowment Fund at SUNY Oswego.
When WRVO signed-on in 1969, Krauss' voice was the first to be heard on-air. Over the next 41 years, Krauss would serve in various capacities, helping WRVO evolve from a tiny station that barely covered Oswego, to a 50,000-watter with two HD subchannels, with coverage supplemented by several full-power FM repeaters and low-power translators across central and northern New York. Krauss served as GM from 1996 until his retirement in 2010. That same year, he was inducted to the Syracuse Press Club's Wall of Distinction.
John Krauss was 64 when he passed away on Monday.
Here is the full obituary as posted on the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home website:
John E. Krauss, 64 of Scriba, NY died unexpectedly on Monday, at Oswego Hospital. John was born in Brooklyn NY and was the son of the late Ed and Jeannette Krauss.
Prior to his retirement in April 2010 he worked for WRVO radio station at SUNY Oswego for 41 years. He began there as an intern being the first person to speak on air in 1969 and served several years as the general station manager overseeing many expansion projects. He was inducted into the Syracuse Press Club’s Wall of Distinction in 2010.
John was an active member of the Grace Lutheran Church of Oswego, serving as its treasurer for 29 years. John was raised in Lake City Lodge #127 on June 22, 1971. He became master of Lake City Lodge in 1976 and served as it treasurer for the past 9 years after serving as Education Chairperson from 78-89, and Trustee from 78- 83 and Lodge Brotherhood Fund Chairperson from 07-13. He served as Grand Director of Ceremonies of the Grand Lodge State of NY in Oswego District from 2008-2010 and District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge State of NY in Oswego District from 2010-2012 and currently serving since 2012 as a Trustee of the Grand Lodge of the Hall and Home. He was a member of the American Lodge of Research #9009 since 1994.
John was also serving as the treasurer of the Oswego Masonic Charity Corps currently. John was exalted in Lake Ontario Chapter #165 Royal Arch Masons currently serving as their secretary. He was a member of Lake City Victoria Chapter #205, Order of the Eastern Star, currently serving as their Patron with his sister, Elyse, and served in Victoria Chapter #205 as Patron in 1991 with his mom. He also served as District Grand Lecturer of the Oswego District OES State of NY in 2002.
John was active in the Boy Scouts of America having reached the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a selected member of the Order of the Arrow. He worked many summers at Boy Scout Camp in the Catskills. John was a train enthusiast! He was a member of the Oswego Valley Railroad Association and served as the club's treasurer.
John is predeceased by his wife, Judy. He is survived by his two sisters, Rev. Elyse Skiles of Mexico and Jean (Kurt) Whitford of Cincinnati, OH and one brother, Roger (Kathlene) Krauss of Orlando FL and 5 nephew and 3 nieces and 2 grand nephews, sister-in-law Betty Brown of Scriba and his girlfriend Pat Shea of Liverpool.
Calling hours will be Friday 4-7PM at the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home and Saturday 1-3PM at Grace Lutheran Church where Order of the Eastern Star, Masonic and Memorial Services will follow at 3PM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations should be made to Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica NY and WRVO Endowment Fund, SUNY Oswego.
Our condolences to the the family, friends and many colleagues of John Krauss. Some CNYRadio.com readers have posted comments to share their memories and condolences on our earlier story about Krauss' passing; please feel free to add your own, either on that page or here on this page, using either Facebook or your free CNYRadio.com login.
RIP John Krauss...I worked w/him at WRVO many moon ago....he was a nice man