STORMVILLE – Gerard A. Kraus, 81, an area resident since 1961 and formerly of Brooklyn, died on Friday, August 10, 2012 at his home following a long illness.

Born in Brooklyn on October 26, 1930, he was the son of Rudolph and Mary Orlick Kraus. He proudly served our country as a Corporal in the US Army during the Korean War and was employed as a Letter Carrier for the Arlington Branch of the US Postal Service for 26 years until his retirement in 1992. Gerard was a parishioner of St. Columba Church in Hopewell Junction and a member of St. Mary's Council #4065, Knights of Columbus in Fishkill. He also enjoyed woodworking.

On June 2, 1956 in Brooklyn, Gerard married Cecelia Corbett who survives at home. He is also survived by his children, Gerard K. Kraus and wife Jane of Morgan Hill, CA, Mary DiMarco and husband Robert of Wappingers Falls, Kathleen Parchinski and husband Chris of Stratford, CT, Cecelia Casini and husband Peter of Pflugerville, TX and Richard Kraus of Ballston Spa; his grandchildren, Joseph, Stephen, Alexander, Dayna, Kyle and Erin; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Teresa Awe.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10am at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. Interment with military honors will follow in St. Denis Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018 or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.

For driving directions, online condolences and memorial donations, please visit Gerard's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.