Michael James (Rocky) Krause, age 80, of Blandinsville Illinois, died at home on Tuesday evening October 7, 2025. He was born on December 31, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois to Frank and Florence (Riley)Krause. They preceded him in death as well as an older brother Frank William (Bill) Krause III.
Rocky is survived by his wife Laura (Curtis) Krause and her children and his sister Jeanne (John) Nunez of Homer Glen, Illinois, a niece, nephew, and several great nieces and nephews.
Rocky went to SIU  for one year, went into the Army and served in Vietnam, then attended WIU and graduated with a teaching degree he later returned to WIU and earned a Masters degree.
Rocky had numerous jobs over the years and if you asked him he would tell you all about them, he worked for the Chicago transit Authority, he was a ladies  shoe salesman, a brick layer, a roofer, he did construction and had a lawn care business. He was a teacher and behavior specialist with the West Central Illinois Special Education Cooperative for many years and he taught adult education at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling for three years he also drove a taxi for S&G taxi in Macomb.
Rocky was a member of the American Legion and the Ramblers Motorcycle Club and he served on the board of the Blandinsville Hire District Library from 2007 until 2011.
Rocky and Laura were married in an outdoor ceremony on August 19, 2006 at Horn Field Campus in Macomb Illinois. Cremation rites have been accorded. There will be a celebration of life for Rocky Krause at the American Legion in Macomb on Saturday, November 8, 2025 from 1 PM until 4 PM. Clugston -Tibbitts Funeal Home  is in charge of arrangements. You may sign the guestbook and leave online condolences at clugston-tibbitts.com.