He is, in his own words, "just plain Chet" - a local farm boy who grew up just east of 68C and later carpenter turned publisher who put his home town of Iola, Wisconsin on the world publishing map. In 1952, Chet founded Krause Publications by producing a single page introductory issue of Numismatic News on the dining room table of his parents home. In the ensuing decades, his modest start grew into the internationally known, multi million dollar publishing firm, Krause Publications.

In 1972, he and Cliff Mishler were the driving force behind the founding of the Iola Old Car Show and Swap Meet, which has grown to become the largest old car show in the Midwest. All proceeds from the show benefit local civic groups.

His hobby and business interest have been profiled in USA Today, Nation's Business, Entrepreneur, major Wisconsin daily newspapers, and on the syndicated television show Motorweek. In 1990 he was named Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year. He served as a member of the National Advisory Council of the Marshfield Clinic from 1987 to 1991, after which he was appointed an emeritus member. He has been an active supporter of Rawhide Boys Ranch for troubled youth.

It was because of the Iola Car Show, that the Central County Flyers started a fly-in in 1981 to accommodate fellow flyers by providing breakfasts and transportation to the car show.

Chet was another major benefactor in helping us build our club hangar, and we are grateful to him also.