Joseph M. (Joe) Crause, 48

April 11, 1964 - March 9, 2013

Joseph M. (Joe) Crause, of Athol, passed away March 9, 2013, at the age of 48.

Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Bonnie L. Crause of Athol; his mother, Shirley M. Howerton, also in Athol; his brothers, Richard W. and Michelle Crause of Vancouver, Wash.; Daniel W. Crause of Athol, and Gordon and Ramona Crause of Post Falls.

He was preceded in death by his father, Theodore F. Crause of Baton Rouge, La. Joseph was born on April, 11, 1964, in Munich, Germany, to Theodore F. and Shirley Crause as a military dependent.

He was raised in Baker, La., and Baton Rouge, La., and moved to Idaho in 1982. He stayed in Idaho until 1986, returned to Louisiana and hired by the Department of Corrections in Louisiana in St. Gabriel, La., for five years. He married Bonnie L. Tucker on Dec. 23, 1994. He joined the St. Gabriel City Police Department and was there for three years. He left the police department and him and his wife moved back to Athol. He graduated from North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene as a certified fireman and volunteered on the Athol Fire Department.

He loved Louisiana State University football, enjoyed collecting old and antique fire fighting equipment. He loved fishing, building models, taking online medical courses and camping. He loved his stepdaughter Lacey Bamburg and his grandson Christopher Bamburg of Greenwood, La. He will truly be missed by all of his family and friends in both Louisiana and Idaho.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 15, 2013, at Forest Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene. In lieu of flowers the family asks the friends and family make a small donation to the NIC Fire College in his name. May the Lord keep him and wrap his loving arms around him forever.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Joe’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guest book.