Roger Louis Kraus passed away at his home in Hesperia on May 23, 2018. He was 72 years old. Roger was born on February 2,, 1946 to Clement and Marie Kraus, who preceded him in death as did his sister, Carol Ann Kraus, and his brother, Charles, and sister-in-law, Betty Kraus. Roger is survived by his wife, Judy Kraus, and seven children – Michael Kraus (Desiree) of Hesperia, Karen Kraus of Chicago, IL, Laurie Boyd (Jon) of Kirkland, WA, Joseph Kraus (Brittney) of Hart, Daniel Kraus of Whitehall, Bobby Kraus (Jennifer) of Fremont and Mark Kraus (Brook) of Hesperia. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren - Mercedes Kraus, Merrick Kraus, Alix Boyd, Graham Boyd, Lucas Boyd, Liam Boyd, Peyton Kraus, Aria Kraus, Kyra Kraus, Tyler Kraus, Kylie Kraus, Dain Kraus, Jolie Kraus and two more Kraus grandkids due to arrive in 2018. His niece Tracy Aguillon (David), great-niece Madison and great-nephew Jackson, all of Vicksburg, also survive him. A lifelong resident of Hesperia, Roger was active in his school and community from the start. He played o Hesperia's very first Little League team. At age 13, he was the youngest Boy Scout in his troop and the first in Hesperia history to earn the Eagle Scout honor. In high school, he played football and basketball for the Hesperia Panthers. Roger graduated from Hesperia High in 1964. He attended college at Ferris State University but left to work with his father at the family business – the Hesperia Variety Store. In 1966, he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. He attended Marine Corps basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA and served in Vietnam for 13 months before returning home to care for his ailing father. Roger married his high school sweetheart, Judy Brandt, in August 1967. After his father's death, he purchased the family store from his mother. Over the next 45 years, Roger and Judy managed and grew Hesperia Variety Store from a humble candy counter to a 20,000-square foot retail space at the edge of town. Their children worked alongside their parents at the store as did dozens of local residents who were hired as employees but became family friends. In the 1970s and 1980s Roger and Judy owned and operated several retail stores in Hesperia, Fremont, Hart and Baldwin, but the Variety Store was his favorite place to be. In the 1990s, Roger and his sons, Michael and Joseph, purchased a hardware store, which served the local community as Hesperia True Value for nearly two decades. They opened the town's first Dollar Store and owned various properties around town as well. In 2003, they bought and renovated the Anchor House on Main Street in Hesperia and re-opened the restaurant as Daniel's - named for one of his sons. Roger loved living and working in Hesperia where he mentored countless high school students who worked for him and kept up with his fellow merchants and friends during coffee and lunch breaks at local restaurants. He was always eager to trade stories with customers at the store and was grateful for their support over the years. He believed strongly in giving back to the community who gave him and his family so much. He was an active member of the Hesperia Chamber of Commerce, the Hesperia Lions Club, Hesperia Athletic Boosters and Christ the King Church. He served on the Hesperia Village Council as a council member and as Village President. He was instrumental in the construction of the softball fields near the dam at the north end of town and in revitalizing Webster Park, including the Veterans Monument honoring Hesperia-area veterans. He was also a board member for NCCS (Newaygo County Community Services, now TrueNorth Community Services). VISITATION : Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:30pm at Christ The King Catholic Church 263 S Elm Street Hesperia MI 49421. ROSARY SERVICES : Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 7:30pm at the church. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL : Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 11am at Christ The King Catholic Church in Hesperia. INTERMENT and MILITARY RITES : Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Christ The King Catholic Cemetery following the Mass of Christian Burial with luncheon following the graveside services at Christ The King Catholic Church Fellowship Hall. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to TrueNorth Community Services or Hesperia United Methodist Church Food Pantry in memory of Roger. Visitation Christ The King Catholic Church Tuesday, May 29, 2018 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM 263 S. Elm Hesperia, MI 49421 Rosary Christ The King Catholic Church Tuesday, May 29, 2018 7:30 PM 263 S. Elm Hesperia, MI 49421 Mass of Christian Burial Christ The King Catholic Church Wednesday, May 30, 2018 11:00 AM 263 S. Elm Hesperia, MI 49421 Military Honors Christ The King Catholic Cemetery Wednesday, May 30, 2018 12:15 PM 8613 Loop Road Hesperia, MI 49421