Kathleen "Tootie" E. Kraus, age 79, of Kiel, formerly of New Holstein, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Hospital. Tootie was born October 28, 1941, in the Town of New Holstein at the homestead of her parents, Sylvester & Helen (Rach) Halbach. She graduated from New Holstein High School in 1960. On May 20, 1961, she married Charles "Charlie" Kraus at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in New Holstein; Charlie preceded her in death on December 20, 2009. Tootie & Charlie owned the former K & K Bar in St. Anna for 21 years. She enjoyed gambling and playing cards with many of the card groups she belonged to. Survivors include her seven children, Linda (Steve) Schmitz of St. Anna, Debbie (Tom) Pfeifer of West Bend, Chris (Pat) Simon of St. Joe, Lisa Schmitz of Kiel, Kelly (Jamie) Ausloos of New Holstein, Brian (Teri) Kraus of Brillion, and Brad Kraus of New Holstein; 15 grandchildren, Kim Schmitz, Katie (Jordan) Bischel, Carrie (Andy) Goodyear, Corey (Amber) Pfeifer, Kevin Pfeifer, Stefanie (Kyle) Wagner, Danielle Simon, Tarah (Alex) Calenberg, Missy Schmitz (fiancé, James Huff), Ryan (Natasha) Schmitz, Ashley (Jay) Wagner, Erica (Jamie) Davister, Jeremy (Marina) Ausloos, Jacob Ausloos (fiancée, Natasha Hoffmann), and Paige Kraus; 24 great-grandchildren; her special friend, Nick Franzen; her brothers & sisters, Don (Nancy) Halbach, Gerry (JoAnn) Halbach, Jean (Tom) Mueller, Joan (Rick) Mueller, Dan (Karen) Halbach, Paul (Jan) Halbach, Mary (Bruce) Schaar, Mike (Cindy) Halbach, Deb (Mike) Heus, Steve Halbach, and Scott (Mary Beth) Halbach; her sisters-in-law, Betty Kraus, Bernice Kraus, Rosetta Kraus, and Marlene Kraus. She is further survived by many nieces; nephews; other relatives, and many friends. Preceding her in death were her parents, Sylvester & Helen Halbach; her husband, Charlie Kraus; her son, Greg Kraus; a son-in-law, Mike Schmitz; special friend, Merle Voelker; her father-in-law & mother-in-law, William & Agnes Kraus; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Marvin Kraus, Tony Kraus, Evelyn (Al) Cords, Rosetta (Ralph) Ries, Ralph Kraus, Jerome Kraus, and Alex Kraus. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at the Sippel Funeral Home in New Holstein, 2618 Altona Avenue New Holstein, WI 53061. Tootie will be laid to rest next to her husband, Charlie, in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in the Town of Marshfield in St. Joe. Visitation: Family and friends may visit with Tootie's family at the funeral home in New Holstein on Sunday, May 16th from 11:00 AM until 2:45 PM. For further details, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in New Holstein (920) 898-4300 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.