​ABOUT THE VETERANS NATIONAL RECOVERY CENTER

Many veterans have successfully re-entered society after coming home from overseas deployments.

Many veterans have overcome conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and even Burn Trauma. However, many veterans have also found it quite difficult—if not impossible—to reintegrate into society. The VNRC’s mission is to advocate for those veterans who are struggling to adapt to a normal life and assist them with the transition. We do so with the general public, state and national policy makers, and with the veterans themselves.

The VNRC is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service in 2011. Our IRS Tax ID is 27-3714537. Our Address is 204 Arch Street, Suite 101, Burlington, Iowa, 52601, and out telephone is 515-657-0069.

Currently we have exceptionally low overhead in that all of our work is conducted by volunteers. So, your gift to us really does go a long way in our quest to educate policy makers and the general public about the special needs of PTSD, TBI, MST and Burn Injury vets.

If you have any questions, please browse to the Contact Us page to get in touch with usf – we’re always happy to talk!

This captures the mood of the VNRC at the time it was created. IT was produced at the time of incorporation.

​ABOUT BOB KRAUSE, PRESIDENT OF THE VETERANS debatepic-iowapressNATIONAL RECOVERY CENTER

Bob Krause, President and Chairman of the Board of VNRC is an outstanding veterans’ advocate who has been tested by time and circumstance. He is a leader dedicated to elevate our veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, MST and other illnesses and conditions of war.
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This biographical video was created for Bob’s run for US Senate in 2016. Although a small portion of the video is political, it covers the details in Bob’s background that makes him the exceptional leader that he is.

https://youtu.be/LNa1HDOBoZ4

​BOB KRAUSE – A VETERAN

​He is a retired colonel with service in the National Guard and Army Reserve as well as past Iowa state president of the Reserve Officers Association (ROA) and past national public affairs officer for the ROA. He also served as state chair of the Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus. He was military spokesperson during the mobilization of Des Moines’s 3rd Corps Support Command when it was called up for Bosnia, and was also Army Reserve spokesperson during Hurricane Andrew in Florida. He travelled to Korea often and wrote a portion of the contingency war plan for the Korean theater. He is a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

​BOB KRAUSE – A RECORD OF CARING

​Bob is a caring person. It shows in the positions and projects he has undertaken during his very active life. He is a native Iowan who has been a state legislator, school board member, top federal official in the USDOT, national think tank director, colonel in the Army Reserve, international consultant, operator of a small business, and founder of an active veterans’ charity.

​CREATING THE VNRC

​Bob announced the creation of the Veterans National Recovery Center at a press conference at Java Joe’s coffee shop in Des Moines, Iowa in October 2010. Initial attendees and board members included Steve Mulcahy, Vietnam combat veteran and past chair of the Iowa Veterans Council and past president of the Iowa Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, Dan Steen, Vietnam Navy vet and past Commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home, James Marren, an Army medic in Vietnam, and Vicky Krause, Bob’s wife and constant advisor.

The VNRC was incorporated in 2011 and received its Internal Revenue Service 50 (c)(3) charitable status letter that same year. Bob’s work in the veterans’ charity has recently been visible to Iowans for working to improve conditions at the Iowa Veterans Home for PTSD veterans, and also for writing and passing a state law dealing with Military Sexual Assault (MSA). “I took on MSA because no one else seems to be responding. I see it as a Human Rights issue – not a feminist issue,” said Krause.

BEGINNINGS

Bob was born in Algona, Iowa raised on a Century farm near Fenton in Palo Alto County of which he is part owner. After graduating from Sentral High School of Fenton in 1968, he attended University of Iowa, where he graduated from in 1972.

BOB IN THE IOWA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

After graduating, Bob ran for state representative from his home area, and won. There, he chaired the Transportation Committee and was a floor whip for passage of Iowa’s Public Employees Collective Bargaining law.  During this time, the Des Moines Register named him as one of the “Top 10 Most Effective Iowa Legislators.” He served for three terms.

BOB IN THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION

Bob left the legislature when he ran unsuccessfully for Treasurer of State. He then joined the Carter Administration as Regional head of the US Department of Transportation. There he was in charge of the field response to the bankruptcy of the Rock Island and Milwaukee Railroads, and also served as advocate to rural America on railroad deregulation. His recommendations resulted in the successful transition of 98 percent of rail shippers to other private sector railroads, and avoided a permanent government takeover of a major portion of the Midwest rail system.

BOB AS AN EDUCATOR, RESEARCHER, WRITER, ADVOCATE

Bob left the US DOT at the conclusion of the Carter Administration, and went to Iowa State University, where he taught in the business school and also took graduate classes. He later joined the staff of the Council of State Governments (CSG), the national association for state government officials based in Kentucky. There, he ran a national think-tank on transportation policy and wrote several books on transportation policy. Recommendations from one of his books became national highway safety law. Bob later moved to Palm Beach County, Florida, which is the largest county in Florida with current population of 1.42 million people. There, he managed intergovernmental relations with federal, state and local governments.

​In 1993 he returned to Iowa, and joined the Iowa DOT as district planner for a large part of eastern Iowa. He left the Iowa DOT in early 2008 to advise the government of Dubai, United Ara Emirates, on transportation policy. Upon his return to Iowa, he worked for a defense contractor in Des Moines until his retirement in January of this year. In his position he inspected weapons and equipment of the US Army Reserve for a multi-state area.

​BOB’S FAMILY

Vicky M Krause, Bob’s wife, is an indigenous member of the Maori tribe in New Zealand Together, he and his wife operate a small firm that rents apartments and does new and renovation property development. Vicky has 4 grown children, Joseph, Paul, David and Luke. She also has 4 step children by her first husband, the late George Matthiessen – Saul, Daniel, Ann and Fiona. Bob has two children by a previous marriage, Laurel Krause and Janelle Krause. In addition, he has three step children from his marriage to MaryAnn who died of cancer. They are Geoff Mills, Joshua Mills and Jared Mills. Bob and Vicky reside in Burlington, Iowa and attend the Episcopal Church.

Board Members

Bob Krause – President and Board Chair- [email protected]
Vicky Krause – Marketing/Sales and Board Member – [email protected]

Bruce Beeston
Madeline Allen
James Marren
Steve Mulcahy
Ken Briggs
​Nicole Dawson
Curtis Hervey