Robert Adam Krause died on May 23, 2025, in Winchester, Virginia. He was born on November 15, 1951, to Adam and Pauline Krause in Baltimore, Maryland; grew up on the east side of Baltimore, in Dundalk, as a big brother to sisters Sharon and Debra. They were surrounded by a vibrant community of family, friends and neighbors. He was taught by the nuns in East Baltimore using rules and rulers and graduated from Dundalk High School, the University of Maryland, and the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Michigan. Robert `Bob’ loved playing soccer and lacrosse in school and was on the winning soccer teams for his high school state championship and ACC college championship.

He was the son-of-a-son of a sailor. His father, grandfather, uncle and cousin were Baltimore harbor docking pilots and tugboat captains. Bob also had U.S. Coast Guard pilotage credentials for Baltimore Harbor.

Captain Robert Krause was a ship pilot with the Western Great Lakes Pilot’s Association navigating ships through Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron, the St. Mary’s River, and to all U.S. and Canadian ports and harbors therein. They transported everything from steel to grain, to windmill blades and towers, cruising tourists, and more. This was the highlight of his maritime career. He served as President of the Association for two years.

Prior to piloting, Robert sailed on tankers working up to Chief Mate with Hvide Marine making many trips to Odessa, Ukraine, and ports along the Mediterranean coast. He also worked on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast sailing in and out of most of the major ports.

In 1974, he started working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a nautical cartographer transforming paper charts into digital format. There he met Theresa Haas and after lots of cheap dates biking, canoeing, and swimming together; they embarked on a 4-month camping trip across America during the Bicentennial. They married in 1978 and eventually visited all 50 states, many national parks, and rafted down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.

The greatest joy of his life was his family, especially his two children Carly and Eric, whom he cherished deeply. Together, they created countless wonderful memories—bonding over a shared love of reading and thoughtful conversation, a deep curiosity about the world, creative pursuits, treasured family traditions, travel, and time spent in nature. In the early years of fatherhood, he delighted in showing his children the country and the world, taking them on adventures ranging from camping trips along the Eastern Seaboard to a cross-country drive to Wyoming and back. As they grew older, he embraced every opportunity to visit and travel with them and grow with them in their adult lives-just as they made it a priority to return home to see him. He is remembered as a loving, gentle, and deeply thoughtful father.

In addition to his children, he adored his two grandchildren. He treasured spending time with them, sharing in their interests, and watching them blossom into themselves.

Robert enjoyed going to concerts and local music events. Although accommodating his wife’s efforts to coax him with songs from this century; he remained forever loyal to Jimmy Buffet, Gordon Lightfoot, Nanci Griffith, and the many other musical artists and entertainers of that era.

He loved his dogs, tolerated the cats, wore out several bikes and had a basic hardware store in his garage. In retirement, he found pleasure in a good cup of coffee, crossword puzzles and cooking dinner.

Robert is survived by his wife Theresa Krause, their children Carly Krause McFadden and Eric Krause, grandchildren Lily and Birch, and son-in-law George McFadden; sisters Sharon Quick (Michael) and Debra Maglott (Dave); also, sisters-in-law Susan Meyer (Ted) and Patsy Cleveland (David), and brother-in-law Christopher Haas; plus 10 nephews and their families, an aunt and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and brother-in-law William Rabuck.

Completely unexpected; Robert passed away peacefully at home in his sleep snuggled in his favorite blanket. The last words he spoke and the last words he heard were … `love you’….

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 1pm with a memorial service to follow at 2pm all held at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. Refreshments will be served following the service at Omps Reception Center.