The Service begins....

..on pg. 469 of the burgundy colored Prayer Book
Entry Anthems - said by the Pastor, p. 469
First Reading - Wisdom 3: 1-5, 9
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God
Psalm 46 - pages 471 adn 472, in unison.
Second Reading - The Revelation to St. John 7: 9-17
God shall wipe away all tears.
Psalm 23 - King James Version at foot of page 476, in unison
The Holy Gospel -St. John 10: 11-16

I am the Good Shepherd
The Homily
The Solemn Prayers - page 480
Holy Communion - page 361
All baptized person are welcome to receive Communion.
The Blessing
Gather in a circle in front of the Church for tributes and remembrances.
The Committal at the Columbarium Niche - Both Rick and Mike.

John Mikel Krauss

September 17, 1949 - October 10, 2022

Rick Kurt Benner

March 9, 1951 - July 3, 2021

Remembrances of Mike and Rick

From brother Peter Krauss - "Now my strength is overthrown and what strength I have is mine own, which is most faint....release me from my bands. With your good hands. Gentle breath of yours my sails must fill or else my project fails, which was to please. Now I want spirits to enforce, art to enchant; and my ending is despair - Unless I be relieved by prayer, which pierces so that it assaults Mercy itself and frees all faults. As you from crimes would pardoned be, let your indulgence set me free." The Tempest, Shakespeare."



From dear friend, Jenty Maxwell - " Mike, Rick & I became intrinsically connected when we all arrived in Cuernavaca to embark upon the adventure of a lifetime (read as, we really didn't have a clue what we were in for!!) at almost exactly, bar one month, the same time (Aug/Sept 1992). This tie would be strengthened by mutual friendships especially with William Derby & Eithne Malcolmson. Those were fun times of art exhibitions, community events, many a Christmas or Easter chez William and later, good times out in Tepoztlán....where there was always much camaraderie and laughter... Rick's passing in July 2021 and now Mike's leave a plethora of many a happy memory...I just hope the Champagne up there is to your liking dear Mike as you, Rick and my mother dance the night away to 'Hey Jude' Blessings be on all we shared. May you now rest in Eternal Peace."



From Rick's sister - "Mikel was such a great person. He and my brother Rick and ha wonderful life together. I am so glad to have known him for so many years. Rest in Peace my friend. Love," Karen Bebber Mealing.



From Mike's nephew - "My amazing, brilliant, indescribably Uncle John Mikel 'Mike' Krauss has passed away today, October 10 and joins his husband Rick Kurt Benner in heaven. Hew was 73

Mike was the son of the late John and Jean Poole Zeller Krauss, and is survived by his brother Pete and sister-in-law Judy, who were always there for Mikel through thick and thin, and his big sis, Judith, who helped raise her brother and was always his rock.

Mikel was a loving Uncle to many nieces and nephews and is survived by Matt and Chris Nicholas, Tucker Nicholas, Carson Nicholas, Logan and Calvin Krauss and Shiply Krause Robinson. He also had many wonderful relationships with the family of his husband, Rick Benner, who was originally from the Perkasie, Pa area. Yet, mostly he was the loving husband, friend and soul mate of Rick Benner for over 43 years.

Mike and Rick had a wonderful life together full of friends, travel and adventure and living on three continents. They were truly devoted to each other and faced much adversity, but they both showed faith and courage to persevere in the face of loss and challenge.

He grew up in Magnolia Hill, Levittown, was an athletic standout in swimming and gymnastics, captain of the debate team and President of his high school class and Valedictorian of Woodrow Wilson High School, Class of 1967. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College where he played LaCrosse and was a member of his fraternity, TKE...

He led an incredible life having touched so many lives where he and Rick resided, whether it be in New Hope, Pa or King and Queen Courthouse, VA in the USA; Tepoztlán, Mexico where they primarily resided for over 30 years, and near Cape Town, South Africa in the 2000's where he wrote the manuscript for his novel, "The Senator"

He loved Rick, his family, had a passion for music, especially the Beatles, devoured literature, was incredibly well read and had an immense intellect. For Mikel, a whirlwind of energy, life was to be led vigorously as it was his habit to be up every morning for a 5 mile walk with his beloved dogs. Life was about making memories, public service, making the world a better place and for making friends.

He was my political mentor and a veteran of many political campaigns, so many of which he managed to victory. Having managed SE PA for the winning Dick Thornburgh Gubernatorial campaign, in 1980 both he and his brother Pete came to Harrisburg to work in Governor Dick Thornburgh's administration where he was the Executive Director of the PA Rural Electrical Cooperative that brought electricity to many rural Pennsylvanians. Soon after he became the Executive Director of the PA Republican Committee and he remained a lifelong Log Cabin Republican. He came back to Bucks County to become the Executive Director of Delaware where he led a successful citizen activist campaign to Dump the Pump! After years of this grueling effort, he became a transportation and logistics expert who went on to become the Vice President of International Sales for Strick Trailers.

In 1991 Mike and Rick moved to Mexico City where Mikel became the Founder and President of his own transportation company, Trailers Modernos. Eventually Mikel and Rick settled in Tepoztlán, Mexico, near Cuernavaca, after which he became Vice President of a jointly owned Kansas City railroad subsidiary in Mexico City for several years.

Later in life he became an author, a political commentator, syndicated columnist and blogger who as a political commentator appeared on many radio talk shows and, as a columnist, his articles appeared in newspapers nationwide such as The Wall Street Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, and many others. Lastly, his passion project, was as President of the PA Public Banking Project where he worked tirelessly to bring this economic blueprint to not only Pennsylvania, but communities throughout the country.

Mikel was a lifelong Episcopalian, from his days as an Acolyte at St. Paul's Episcopal in Levittown to serving as lay reader at his spiritual home in Mexico, Saint Michael and All Angels. Mikel was a friend to so many who blew in and out of our lives, a force of nature and we can't believe he is gone. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ always be upon you and may God bless you always." Nephew Matthew Krauss.

Images from the Service held on October 15, 2022

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