KIMBERLY KRAUSE

Kimberly Jean (Friebel) Krause, of Neenah, Wisconsin, passed away unexpectedly the morning of March 18^th, 2023. Kim was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, on September 11, 1979, to JoAnn and Peter Friebel. She graduated from Menasha High School in 1998, where she met the love of her life, Ben Krause. She and Ben married on January 23, 2004, and together they had two children, Elayna and Mack. Kim graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a BS in Secondary Education-Broadfield Social Studies. Kim's work history was diverse, but all of her jobs focused on serving others. Some of these jobs included working at Career Connection, Bank One, M & I Trust Company and Family Training Program. In 2010 Kim was injured in an accident and suffered a spinal cord injury. Her injury inspired her to earn a Master's Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Wisconsin Stout in 2016. In June of 2016 she began a new career working for Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.

Kim loved her family fiercely. She did everything with a sense of purpose and a full heart. She was an amazing mom. Elayna and Mack were the center of her world. She loved being a soccer, tee ball, basketball, orchestra, volleyball and baseball mom. She was so proud of her kids and that pride was evident every time she spoke of them. She also deeply loved her husband, Ben. Kim supported him through his military service, including two overseas deployments. He was her rock, her soulmate and her best friend. They shared a love for each other, their kids, and The Boston Red Sox.

Kim was a force of nature. She loved her friends and family with her whole being. She never missed a birthday, and she instinctively knew when a friend needed her to reach out. She loved her job and her coworkers. Kim was passionate about helping her consumers find meaningful, fulfilling jobs. She gave to her community and her kids' schools through volunteer opportunities. She spent countless hours as a parent representative at Alliance Charter School and peer mentoring trauma patients at Theda Clark Medical Center. She loved all of the sports parents and cheered just as loud for everyone else's kids as her own. She was compassionate and generous. Kim loved books, music and baseball. Kim loved to dance.

Kim will forever be remembered for her strength, kindness and tenacity. She will be deeply missed by Ben, Elayna and Mack; her parents, JoAnn and Peter Friebel; her brother, Jeremy; her parents-in-law, Tim and Sara Hoff and Randy and Karen Krause; her sister-in-law, Krysta (Jeramie); her niece, Alyx and nephew, AJ; as well as countless friends and family.

A private family service will be held in honor of Kim. Please join us to celebrate her life on Sunday, April 16 from 1-4:00 at Waverly Beach Bar & Grille, N8770 Fire Lane 1, Menasha. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Discovery League-Heart of Neenah Baseball Inc, a league for special needs individuals ages four through adult.