Dan Kraushaar

Kraushaar, Dan, educator, author, pilot, musician, and craftsman, age 66, died at home on November 18, 2004 after battling an asbestos related cancer called mesothelioma. He was proud of his family, the associations to which he belonged, and the many friends he made in all facets of life. His BS and MS degrees were earned at the University of Tennessee. He managed the design, installation, and training for the Knox County School?s Student Information and School Accounting Systems. As a self-taught programmer, he wrote software which directed the small Apple Computer to drive optical scanners and score test papers and provide analysis for the Knoxville City School System. As a member of Governor Lamar Alexander?s Computer Skills Next state-wide team he taught other educators. He was co-director of a mathematics curriculum project creating a high school course which helped previously unsuccessful students to meet the state math standards required for graduation. He belonged to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and was a speaker for many regional and national conventions. He taught mathematics and computer science at East High School, Austin-East High School, Holston High School, and Bearden High School. He enjoyed retirement from the Knox County School system by keeping books for the East Tennessee Pilot?s Club where he had been a member for many years and during which he held all elective offices; flying his Bonanza; playing his piano; and writing a humorous book (The Sky Ranch Flying Society) about these silly old men buying an island for their airplanes. He was a member of AOPA and the American Bonanza Society. He was most proud of his forty-year-membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association where he gave airplane rides to nearly 200 youngsters in the EAA sponsored Young Eagles Program. As a published author he was a member of The Writer?s Group and former member of The Writer?s Guild. As a professional piano player he was proud to be a card carrying member of The Knoxville Musicians Association and enjoyed playing at the Knox County Retired Teachers Association meetings. His first paying jobs as a musician started when he was fourteen, playing trumpet in the Princeton, WV jazz band, and he had stayed in close touch with several members of that group until his death. As a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and former member of the Foothills Craft Guild, Dan designed and produced quality wooden toys and puzzles using the name Red Wagon Crafts. Preceeded in death by his mother and father Rose Lee Edmonds Kraushaar and Wilfred Paul (Buck) Kraushaar. Loving wife Sharon Crisp Kraushaar; son and daughter-in-law Wilfred Paul II and Peggy Kraushaar; grandchildren: Sean and Glenn Howard and Daniel Edmond Kraushaar II; sister-in-law, Diana Lopez; and his many friends at the Sky Ranch and elsewhere. A celebration of life will take place at the Sky Ranch, 3535 Alcoa Highway at 1:00 PM Sunday, November 28, 2004. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the EAA Young Eagles Chapter 17, c/o Ed Dumas, Treasurer, 9916 Cedar Croft Circle, Knoxville, TN 37923 or the East Tennessee Technology Access Center, 4918 N. Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. Family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Monday, November 22, 2004 at Berry Funeral Home, Chapman Highway.