St. Louis, MO – Missouri will pay tribute this week to the life and service of St. Louis Fire Department Firefighter Lee M. Kraus, with flags at government buildings statewide and at firehouses ordered to fly at half-staff on Wednesday, July 9. Firefighter Kraus, a 30-year veteran, died in the line of duty after a medical emergency while on shift June 29.
According to a release from the Office of Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, the flag-lowering order will apply across Missouri and at the Fire Fighters Memorial in Kingdom City from sunrise to sunset Wednesday. Gov. Kehoe stated Kraus “committed his life to public service at age 22 and remained steadfast in that commitment for over three decades, no matter how dangerous the emergency or trying the circumstances.”
St. Louis Fire Department announced that visitation for Firefighter Kraus will be held Tuesday, July 8, from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary on Chippewa Street. A uniformed member walk-through is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Funeral services are set for Wednesday, July 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the same location. Due to space limitations, uniformed members are encouraged to join the live stream of the funeral at Bishop DuBourg High School. An apparatus procession honoring Firefighter Kraus will follow, traveling through St. Louis and concluding at Hampton Avenue.
According to the St. Louis Fire Department, Kraus answered thousands of calls during his career, from fires to highway accidents, and will be remembered for his professionalism and compassion.
Flags will remain at half-staff in the City of St. Louis and across Missouri on July 9 in recognition of Firefighter Kraus’s sacrifice.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more relevant new stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
