Late Kum & Go founder Bill Krause and his family

October 28, 2025

This article was originally published in the Des Moines Register. Click here to read the full article.

Kum & Go founder Bill Krause, left, and his son Kyle Krause, President and CEO of Kum & Go, right, talk with Jim Sanders city administrator for the city of Johnston after a groundbreaking ceremony on Kum & Go's first LEED convenience store in Johnston on Sept. 3, 2008.

Kum & Go founder Bill Krause, left, and his son Kyle Krause, President and CEO of Kum & Go, right, talk with Jim Sanders city administrator for the city of Johnston after a groundbreaking ceremony on Kum & Go's first LEED convenience store in Johnston on Sept. 3, 2008.
Justin Hayworth/Des Moines Register.

Kyle Krause, then CEO of Krause Gentle, during an interview with Des Moines Register reporter Jeff Eckhoff on April 15, 2010.

Kyle Krause, then CEO of Krause Gentle, during an interview with Des Moines Register reporter Jeff Eckhoff on April 15, 2010.
BILL NEIBERGALL/DES MOINES REGISTER

Kum & Go leadership, from left, Kyle Krause, president and CEO, Bill Krause, co-founder and chairman, and Kevin Krause, senior vice president of marketing, at the company's 50th anniversary celebration 2009.

Kum & Go leadership, from left, Kyle Krause, president and CEO, Bill Krause, co-founder and chairman, and Kevin Krause, senior vice president of marketing, at the company's 50th anniversary celebration 2009.
Renda Lutz/The Des Moines Register

Bill Krause, former owner of Kum & Go stores, recounts a story told to him of falling ceiling tiles during fund-raiser for Holy Family School on Jan. 25, 1996, held in the gym. Krause pledged to match all other donations during fundraiser.

Bill Krause, former owner of Kum & Go stores, recounts a story told to him of falling ceiling tiles during fund-raiser for Holy Family School on Jan. 25, 1996, held in the gym. Krause pledged to match all other donations during fundraiser.
Neibergall Bill / Des Moines Register

Fort Dodge Superintendent of Schools Linda Brock, left, Kum and Go's Bill Krause, Fort Dodge Kum and Go general manager Pat Fellers and Fort Dodge St. Edmond Middle/High School Principal Chuck Elbert, right, in front of the Fort Dodge Kum and Go store where a winning Iowa Lottery Powerball ticket was sold on Sept. 25, 2006.

Fort Dodge Superintendent of Schools Linda Brock, left, Kum and Go's Bill Krause, Fort Dodge Kum and Go general manager Pat Fellers and Fort Dodge St. Edmond Middle/High School Principal Chuck Elbert, right, in front of the Fort Dodge Kum and Go store where a winning Iowa Lottery Powerball ticket was sold on Sept. 25, 2006.
White Rodney, Copyright 2006 The Des Moines Register

Bill Krause designed Eldora's Kum & Go

Bill Krause designed Eldora's Kum & Go "founder's store" to be reminiscent of the stations he worked in as a youth. He visited on Jan. 18, 2006. Krause grew up on a farm near Eldora.
White Rodney, Copyright 2006 The Des Moines Register

Bill Krause designed Eldora's Kum & Go

Bill Krause designed Eldora's Kum & Go "founder's store" to be reminiscent of the stations he worked in as a youth. He visited on Jan. 18, 2006. Krause grew up on a farm near Eldora.
White Rodney, Copyright 2006 The Des Moines Register;Yes-desm

Kum & Go CEO Bill Krause, left, greets winners of new Ford Mustangs Tom Cook, center, and Chas Heath, far right, both of Springfield, MO. Kum & Go executives gave away the Ford Mustangs and other prizes at an annual meeting on Oct. 20, 2005.

Kum & Go CEO Bill Krause, left, greets winners of new Ford Mustangs Tom Cook, center, and Chas Heath, far right, both of Springfield, MO. Kum & Go executives gave away the Ford Mustangs and other prizes at an annual meeting on Oct. 20, 2005.
Warren Taylor / The Des Moines Register

Bill Krause, right, and Russell G. Olson helped craft a deal in acquiring StateFed Financial Corp. of Clive, Iowa, in 2003.

Bill Krause, right, and Russell G. Olson helped craft a deal in acquiring StateFed Financial Corp. of Clive, Iowa, in 2003.
Wells Doug / The Des Moines Register

W.A.

W.A. "Bill" Krause, left, founder of Kum & Go chain, talks with high school friend Ron Reece of Lincoln, Neb., in front of the 20 foot by 30 foot steel sculpture of Grant Woods' 'American Gothic' in Waukee, Iowa, on Krause's land in 2003.
Dorgan-Ross Alex / The Des Moines Register

Iowa Regent Bob Downer, left, with Kum & Go chairman Bill Krause and his wife, Nancy, at the dedication of the Krause Family Plaza at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City in 2006.

Iowa Regent Bob Downer, left, with Kum & Go chairman Bill Krause and his wife, Nancy, at the dedication of the Krause Family Plaza at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City in 2006.
Provided By University Of Iowa Athletics

At a Kum & Go employee recognition gathering at the company's West Des Moines headquarters, Kyle Krause gave a sort of stand-up routine about what would otherwise be office banality.

At a Kum & Go employee recognition gathering at the company's West Des Moines headquarters, Kyle Krause gave a sort of stand-up routine about what would otherwise be office banality.
Charlie Litchfield/The Des Moines Register

Kyle Krause, CEO of Krause Gentle, during interview with Des Moines Register reporter Jeff Eckhoff on April 15, 2010. In the background is a portrait of his father, Bill Krause, a co-founder of the corporation.

Kyle Krause, CEO of Krause Gentle, during interview with Des Moines Register reporter Jeff Eckhoff on April 15, 2010. In the background is a portrait of his father, Bill Krause, a co-founder of the corporation.
BILL NEIBERGALL/DES MOINES REGISTER

From left, Emily Safris; Kyle Krause; his wife, Sharon Krause; Bill Krause, co-founder and chairman; his wife, Nancy Krause; Kevin Krause; and his wife, Mary Krause. They gathered to celebrate Kum & Go's 50th anniversary on Sept. 1, 2009.

From left, Emily Safris; Kyle Krause; his wife, Sharon Krause; Bill Krause, co-founder and chairman; his wife, Nancy Krause; Kevin Krause; and his wife, Mary Krause. They gathered to celebrate Kum & Go's 50th anniversary on Sept. 1, 2009.
Renda Lutz/The Des MoinesRegister

Honoree Bill Krause at the 2007 Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award.

Honoree Bill Krause at the 2007 Oscar C. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award.
Provided By Ed Kempf

A 20-by30-foot steel sculpture of Grant Wood's

A 20-by30-foot steel sculpture of Grant Wood's "American Gothic" rises over a field on Bill Krause's Teamwork Acres in Waukee, Iowa. Krause commissioned artist John Brommel to create the sculpture.
Alex Dorgan-Ross / The Des Moines Register

Kyle Krause, president and CEO, and Bill Krause, co-founder and chairman, celebrate Kum & Go's 50th anniversary on Tuesday Sept. 1, 2009.

Kyle Krause, president and CEO, and Bill Krause, co-founder and chairman, celebrate Kum & Go's 50th anniversary on Tuesday Sept. 1, 2009.
Renda Lutz/The Register

A 20-by-30-foot steel sculpture of Grant Wood's

A 20-by-30-foot steel sculpture of Grant Wood's "American Gothic" rises over a field on W.A. "Bill" Krause's Teamwork Acres in Waukee, Iowa. Krause commissioned artist John Brommel to create the sculpture in 2002.
Alex Dorgan-Ross / The Des Moines Register

Kyle Krause and USL Chief Operating Officer Justin Papadakis pose with a Pro Iowa soccer scarf at the Greater Des Moines Partnership Annual Dinner on Jan. 27, 2022.

Kyle Krause and USL Chief Operating Officer Justin Papadakis pose with a Pro Iowa soccer scarf at the Greater Des Moines Partnership Annual Dinner on Jan. 27, 2022.
USL


To view the original article on the Des Moines Register, click here.