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Master Ralph Krause 1936-2008 Ralph E. Krause, of Aurora, passed away on February 14, 2008 in Aurora. He was born in 1936 in Fort Morgan, Colorado to Agnes and Ralph Krause. He is survived by his beautiful wife, Nola; seven children, Tim, Pam, Eric, Mike, Steve, Robert (Robbie), and Susie, all of Denver; two stepchildren, Sean, of Lakewood, Brett, of Houston, Texas; seventeen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and three siblings, Robert, of Phoenix, Richard, of Aurora, and Saundra Shepherd, of Orem, Utah. Mr. Krause was an eighth degree black belt. He started studying the martial arts in 1961. In 1964, he opened the 1st Korean martial arts school in Denver. For 38 years, he held the Rocky Mountain Karate Championship Tournament. In 1975 and 1976, it was held at the Denver Coliseum, being one of the largest and most prestigious competitions in the United States. Mr. Krause was a true pioneer in the establishment and standardization of tournament competition in the Rocky Mountain region. He directed and sponsored tournaments throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska, including charity events for Jerry Lewis' MDS and March of Dimes. Mr. Krause founded the Rocky Mountain Referees Association in 1973, the Colorado Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1975. The Grand Master also founded the American Sport Karate Association to recognize and unite all of the Black Belts, instructors and students of ASKA under one registry. He has been listed in "Who's Who of American Karate" and "Martial Arts Encyclopedia Traditions, History and People." There will be a tribute to honor and celebrate Mr. Krause's life on March 8, 2008 at the Parker Field House, 18700 E. Plaza Dr. in Parker, Colorado at 6:00 p.m., following the CKA 2008 Season Kick-Off Tournament. Please check CKA website www.coloradokarateassociation.orgfor directions. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Diabetes Association in Mr. Krause's name. Published in the Denver Newspaper Agency on 3/4/2008.