Howard Eli Krans was a first generation American. His mother was Alida Sophia Alaniemi from Overtorneo, Sweden and came to the United States in 1905. His father Elis Krans came from Tengelio Ylitornio, Finland in 1902.
Howard was born in Calumet, Michigan August 23, 1919. He was the 7th of 12 children. He started working as a young boy delivering The Milwaukee Journal newspaper in Calumet. As a young man he worked as a gas station attendant. He moved to Chicago, Detroit, settling in California in 1940 where he enlisted in the Army in 1942.
He was a WWII Veteran and served in the North African and European Campaigns. He was in the Fourth Infantry Division in the 18th and 601st and fought on the front lines in France and Germany. His rank was Army Technician 5th grade. He served for 3 years without leave.
After the war he came back to California and resumed working for Bendix, as a tool maker. He was renting a room in North Hollywood and that is where he met his wife Margarete A Lehman. After a brief courtship, they married after 3 months. They were married on Sept. 7th, 1946.
Margarete was visiting her grandparents in California and her home was in Casper Wyoming. So they settled in Casper and he went to work for his father-in-law Harvey Lehman at City Furniture, 225 W 1st. At that time it was as used furniture store. He bought out his father-in-law and turned it into an all new furniture store. He was owner and operator of City Furniture until 1984 when he retired.
He enjoyed collecting trains, O gauge and G gauge, and built his own railway in the basement. He was an avid bowler and sponsored several bowling teams for many years.
His favorite place was their cabin in Story, Wyoming where he could sit by the creek and watch the deer come through the property. Some of them got to know him and would follow him in hopes of an apple. He was always busy on some project for the cabin.
Survivors include his wife of almost 70 years, Margarete Krans, three sons; Richard (Jenny) Krans of Greenriver, WY., Gary Krans (Lonnalee) of San Jose, CA., Howard Steven (Isabell) Krans of Gallup, NM., two daughters; Lida (Tom) Volin of Casper, WY., Louise (Bill) Zawacki of Loveland,CO., and 7 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Howard passed peacefully with his wife and family there on August 18th 2015 at the Central Wyoming Hospice.
There will be a Memorial Service at the Newcomer Funeral Home at 710 East Second, Casper, WY. At 2:00 on Saturday Sept. 5th, 2015. Services will be conducted by Pastor Mark Tippin of the 1st Presbyterian Church.
Memorials to the Casper Humane Society, made through Newcomers, would be appreciated by the family.
To share your memories of Howard or leave a special condolence message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.