[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1217-E1218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE MEMORY OF MR. KENNETH KRAKAUER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 26, 2001

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kenneth 
Krakauer, whose death on June 16 is an incalculable loss to his loving 
family, cherished friends, and to our community. Ken touched the lives 
of many people through the inexhaustible energy and caring that he 
brought to every aspect of his life. He was a lifelong Kansas City 
resident and the great grandson of Bernhard Ganz, one of the first 
Jewish sellers in Kansas City.
  Throughout his life, Ken Krakauer remained extremely dedicated to his 
faith, country, and community. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps 
where he flew 27 missions in the European Theatre and was awarded the 
Air Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters for his bravery. He played a 
significant role in and was devoted to many organizations in our 
community, including: Director of the Menorah Medical Center for 42 
years, Secretary of the Kansas City Crime Commission, Chairman and Co-
founder of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Jewish Community, 
Co-chairman of the Kansas City Chapter of the National Conference of 
Christians and Jews, and a Director of the Barstow School, Visiting 
Nurses Association, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, UMKC University 
Associates, Jewish Family Services, and the Jewish Community Relations 
Bureau to name a few. Ken Krakauer also was an important part of the 
Kansas City business community. After his Presidency of the Greater 
Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, The Kansas City Star praised him as 
``an unqualified success.'' His grandfather, Bernhard Adler, founded 
Adler's in 1894, and Ken became owner and President in 1956. Adler's 
was the place women of all ages shopped to find the latest in fashion. 
It was always a special occasion for me because of the high standard of 
service and quality in his stores. His staff reflected his love of 
helping people find the uniqueness in themselves.
  Ken Krakauer was instrumental in the founding of the Committee for 
County Progress (CCP) with community and civic leaders Bernie Hoffman, 
Jim Nutter, Sr., Charles Curry, Alex Petrovic, Sr., and Frank Sebree. 
The government reform movement in Jackson County resulted from their 
efforts. A charter form of government--modern, open and accessible--was 
created which was responsive to its citizens and inspired future 
generations of county leaders. I became active in the CCP, volunteering 
in local elections to keep the reform alive that Ken Krakauer achieved 
in the mid '60s as Chairman of the CCP. Through my friendship in high 
school with his daughter, a treasured relationship that has endured to 
this day, I came to revere Ken Krakauer for his sage political skills 
as well as his mentoring during my service in the Missouri General 
Assembly and my work in the United States Congress. I could always rely 
on his sound judgment and wisdom to assist me in sorting through the 
challenges I faced.
  Ken Krakauer's dedication to his community was matched only by his 
love for golf. He was a talented golfer at the University of Missouri 
where he was a captain of the golf team before graduating in 1938 from 
the School of Journalism. His passion for golf remained undiminished 
throughout his life as he served in leadership capacities in the Kansas 
City Golf Foundation, the Kansas City Golf Association, the Missouri 
Golf Association, the Junior Golf Foundation of Greater Kansas City, 
and the Missouri Seniors Golf Association. Ken Krakauer also authored 
numerous golf articles in ``Golf Digest'' and ``Golf Journal,'' as well 
as the book, ``When Golf Came to Kansas City,'' the 1986 winner of the 
National Golf Foundation's Eckhoff Award. He was instrumental in 
sponsoring college scholarships for area caddies through his 
participation as a member of the Western Golf Association's Evans 
Scholars program.
  Mr. Speaker, former U.S. Senator, Thomas F. Eagleton enjoyed Ken's 
friendship throughout his outstanding service to the people of 
Missouri. I wish to share his reflections with my colleagues:

       Ken Krakauer was a marvelous, steadfast friend. When I was 
     young and in my first statewide race for Attorney General of 
     Missouri, he supported me not for what I had done, but for 
     what he hoped I might do. Later when I was in the United 
     States Senate, he would occasionally drop me a note saying he 
     disagreed with a certain vote I had cast. Ken Krakauer 
     believed that an important part of friendship was candor. I 
     have enormous affection for Ken and his wife, Jane, and for 
     Randee and Rex. All of us will dearly miss this wonderful, 
     intelligent man, Ken Krakauer.

  Ken Krakauer loved his family and friends with a passion even death 
cannot diminish. Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing our deepest 
sympathy to his devoted wife of 55 years, Jane Rieger Krakauer, his son 
and daughter-in-law, Rex Rieger and Xiaoning Krakauer, his daughter and 
son-in-law, Randee Krakauer Kelley and Michael J. Kelley, and his 
beloved grandchildren, who loved him as KK, Tyler Randal Greif and Eli 
Jordan Greif. Their unqualified love of ``KK'' was shared with 
neighborhood children, untold schoolmates and friends as you will find 
in the remarks by Georgia Lynch which follow.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the attached testimonial 
given by Georgia Lynch at the memorial service on Tuesday, June 19th 
follow my statement in the Congressional Record.

               Our Sweet Beloved Uncle Ken, June 17, 2001

       For those of you whom I do not know, I am Georgia Lynch. 
     Jim and I moved next door to Ken and Jane 27 years ago. We 
     had two little girls Megan and Kara, ages 5 and 3, and a 
     black lab named Ned. We had no family in Kansas City. 
     Immediately, Uncle Ken and Aunt Jane wrapped their arms 
     around us and for the next 27 years we had family, just 
     across the driveway. They have always been there for us, 
     taking the place of the family we lacked.
       Our little girls stopped at their back door to ask for 
     cookies, to show off their Halloween costumes, their Easter 
     dresses, their prom dresses, their wedding dresses. Uncle Ken 
     was there to talk about the problems of the day, to give 
     advice and direction, or just to give a hug and a kiss. He 
     was always there willing to be interviewed for school 
     projects and essays, a wealth of knowledge on the most 
     interesting subjects. He asked about their day, their 
     friends, their sports, their boyfriends and was important in 
     their lives. Dogs Megan and Charlie and then Jocko lived 
     there too and were the girls' playmates. Our dog Ned was a 
     problem when we first moved into our house. Our yard was not 
     fenced and he was running the neighborhood. Uncle Ken to the 
     rescue. He arranged for a man who lived in the country to 
     take Ned and care for him. Uncle Ken was forever retrieving 
     balls from his back yard that wandered over the fence, moving 
     bicycles from his driveway, buying cups of lemonade from the 
     girls' lemonade stands. Uncle Ken could always be counted on 
     to buy school trash bags, flowers, candy, help with Brownie 
     and Girl Scout projects, put a Band-Aid on a scratched knee. 
     How wonderful to have Uncle Ken across the driveway. The 
     girls knew he could look in our kitchen window and that he 
     knew everything that went on in the house next door.
       Ken loved the Kansas City Chiefs, and always listened with 
     great interest and concern to Jim's tales of adventure on the 
     gridiron. He seldom missed a game and was always there to 
     boost our spirits when we lost or give a strong pat on the 
     back when we won. He followed the children's little sports 
     too, gave directions on the art of roller skating and 
     mastering a bicycle. He could always be counted on to help 
     perfect a golf swing. His stories on Kansas City golf history 
     were amazing. His stories on Kansas City in general were 
     amazing. We listened and we learned.

[[Page E1218]]

       Our son Jake was born 19 years ago; Ken and Jane were at 
     the door when we brought him home from the hospital. Ken 
     asked us to reconsider calling the baby Jake, ``Sounds too 
     much like an old Jewish man rather than an Irish Catholic 
     baby boy.'' Ken said. ``Call him Michael or Patrick.'' But 
     no, it would stay Jake.
       Jake loved his Uncle Ken, as did Megan and Kara. He too 
     would knock on the back door asking for cookies and a chat. 
     Uncle Ken was so sweet with Jake, such a wonderful role model 
     for our young boy. A pat on the back, a bear hug, always a 
     ``How's it going Jake?'' And then, he would listen.
       Most days, when Jim was out of town, my newspapers would be 
     at my back door when I came down to the kitchen. How many 
     many mornings did I see the top of his head walk past my 
     kitchen window and hear the slight thump of Uncle Ken in his 
     bathrobe, delivering the news to the kitchen door? How many 
     times did I call him when the power went out, the alarms went 
     off, a strange sound was heard? He would show up at my back 
     door to see if we were OK, one time at 1:00 in the morning 
     dressed in his trench coat over his pajamas with a butcher 
     knife up his sleeve, ready to protect the children and me 
     from an intruder.
       Two weeks ago, Jim was babysitting our two-year-old 
     granddaughter Morgan Grace, on a Saturday afternoon. They 
     too, knocked on the Krakauers' back door. Aunt Jane was not 
     home but Uncle Ken was, and of course he brought them to the 
     kitchen table for a big chocolate brownie and milk. Papa 
     Lynch, Uncle Ken and now our grandbaby Morgan, continuing the 
     tradition of so many years with our next generation. Jim 
     said, as always, Uncle Ken talked with little Morgan one on 
     one, giving her his full and loving attention, and a great 
     time was had by all.
       What an anchor in our lives our Uncle Ken has been. He is 
     more than a neighbor, more than a friend, he is our Uncle 
     Ken, and we love him deeply and completely. He will always be 
     a part of our lives. How we will miss his wave across the 
     driveway. The last thing he ever did when entering his house 
     was always to glance at our kitchen window before the garage 
     door would come down. Always checking on us in his loving 
     way. How I will miss those taillights pulling into the 
     garage, the sound of the car door slamming, and that sweet 
     smile and wave across the drive.