Alice Dagmar Kraus

Beloved wife, mother and grandmother Alice Kraus passed away on Jan. 15, 2021, in Thousand Oaks, at age 90 after a three-year battle with cancer, surrounded by family lovingly holding her hands. Their comfort lies in knowing she is no longer suffering. Her caring, thoughtful, and generous self will be so missed. She was funny, warm and quirky.

Throughout her life, she overcame many obstacles. Born in Prague, Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia at the time), she lived through the horrific events of World War II. In 1938, her Jewish father fled to China, and over the next few years, numerous relatives were lost to concentration camps, leaving great sadness in her heart. At age 18, while attempting to flee communist Czechoslovakia, she was stopped at the border and sent to a women’s prison for seven weeks. Following her release, she went to nursing school and then worked as a pediatric nurse. In late 1958, she met Dušan (Dan) Kraus playing tennis; they married in late 1959. Four years later daughter Sylvia was born, and Alice and Dan became determined not to raise a child under communism. They plotted their escape, which included defecting separately in 1966 and reuniting three months later in Santa Monica. Fortunately, the Czech authorities didn’t notice that she had illegally altered her travel paperwork so that her daughter could travel with her. Her courage is truly an inspiration.

While she enjoyed traveling with her husband to places such as South Africa, China, Australia and Brazil, more than anything she lived for her three granddaughters. They brought her immense joy; she was endlessly proud of everything they did. Her daily phone calls asking for updates on the girls, her funny sayings, and countless lovingly prepared meals will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dan Kraus, daughter Sylvia (Robert) Walke, and granddaughters Cassandra, Jillian and Hayley Walke.

Precious Grandma, may you enjoy the best coffee and European pastry heaven has to offer, and finally win that Chumash Casino jackpot in the sky! Rest in love.

My si ji uchováme v srdcích navždy // We will keep her in our hearts forever