The man who built one of the largest convenience store chains in the country has died.
The Des Moines Register reported Bill Krause died Wednesday morning, June 18, 2013 at his home in West Des Moines.
Krause founded Kum & Go in 1959.
The company started with a single gas station that was converted into a “station store,” launching the convenience store concept, in 1963. Kum & Go became one of the largest convenience store chains in the U.S., and now has more than 400 stores in 11 states including 153 locations in Iowa.
Krause was raised on a farm near Hampton, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1957.
“Bill Krause was a great Iowa entrepreneur. He built a successful family business that focuses on providing outstanding service to their customers. He was a manager for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team and a loyal Hawkeye fan. He always had a smile on his face, an upbeat attitude and was fun to be around. He will be greatly missed,” said Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.
