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    Robert Kraus's mother passed away yesterday morning. Below is a note
    Robert sent to some of his friends which I'm forwarding with
    permission. <br>
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      <div class="moz-signature">Wes Benedict, Executive Director<br>
        <small><small>Libertarian National Committee, Inc.<br>
            <b>New address: 1444 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314</b><br>
            (202) 333-0008 ext. 232, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:wes.benedict@lp.org">wes.benedict@lp.org</a><br>
            facebook.com/libertarians @LPNational<br>
            Join the Libertarian Party at: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lp.org/membership">http://lp.org/membership</a></small></small><br>
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                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">Dear
                      Friends,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">I am very
                      sad to tell you about the
                      passing of my Mom (Leona Kraus) this am. Despite
                      some health issues of late
                      which she managed well, it was sudden and
                      unexpected but she at least went
                      peacefully in her sleep and did not suffer. My Dad
                      went to check on her and
                      wake her up shortly before my brother (Larry) and
                      I showed up for lunch today
                      and she was already gone.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">My Mom was
                      the kind of person who made
                      friends with anyone willing to lend her an ear.
                      She was non judgmental and
                      loved chocolate, especially truffles, which I
                      always gave her sometimes for no
                      occasion at all. She may have had little appetite
                      of late for food but always
                      made room for dessert! Anything chocolate would
                      do. Did I mentioned she really
                      loved chocolate?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">I am so
                      glad she got the chance to know
                      Larissa (who always looked forward to visiting on
                      Sundays) and that Mom and Dad
                      had such a great cruise together returning just a
                      week ago. Larissa and I were
                      very happy we could meet them for lunch in <st1:city
                        w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. Thomas</st1:place></st1:city>
                      since both our cruises were there
                      at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">Finally she
                      put up with all the Kraus
                      men in her life with little complaint…. OK we are
                      a hand full (and a
                      little nutty) so perhaps she complained a tiny bit
                      but always managed to have
                      good humor about it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">For those
                      who are interested in the
                      arrangements here are the details:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">A short
                      family funeral will be at 10 am
                      Fri 01/30 at Anshe Emet Synagogue 3751 N Broadway,
                      <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chicago</st1:city>,
                        <st1:state w:st="on">Il</st1:state> <st1:postalcode
                          w:st="on">60613</st1:postalcode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">Shiva is
                      Sat 6pm at Suzanne Glink, 25 E
                      Superior St Apt 3502, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place
                          w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city>,
                      IL 60611<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">I am really
                      going to miss Mom’s
                      genuinely happy disposition, when she would give
                      an eye roll to my Dad when he
                      tells a bad joke or acts upset for some crazy
                      reason, and of course not being
                      able to give her chocolates for valentines (would
                      it be OK for me to leave some
                      in her coffin – shhh don’t tell the Rabbi – I
                      don’t
                      think that’s Kosher).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">I am
                      thinking of having a little
                      memorial party with chocolate desserts at my house
                      in honor of Mom in the next
                      couple months and will send out information then.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">Thanks for
                      all your thoughts!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">Robert<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><font color="navy" face="Verdana"
                    size="2"><span style="font-size:
                      11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:navy">PS – In
                      place of flowers a gift to
                      the Little Theatre of Alexandria VA would be
                      appreciated. She loved all the
                      shows there (especially the ones I was in or
                      produced)!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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