He has been married to the former Carol Ann Osborn 52 years. They had two children. Steven Paul, of Twinsburg, Ohio who is a Past State Scribe of Ohio DeMolay, married, the father of two children, is a graduate of Akron University, a member of George A. Holly Lodge and the Valley of Cleveland. The late Cathy Ann Krekus-Kern of Columbus who died as a result of pancreatic cancer in 2008, was a Past Grand Soloist of Ohio Rainbow, the mother of two children, and a graduate of Capital University.
Steve and Carol reside in Aurora, Ohio and are members of a United Church of Christ.
Steve is a Kentucky Colonel and a Territorial Marshal of the Territory of Oklahoma. He served on the City of Aurora Planning Commission for several years and is a Past Chairman. While living in Richmond Heights, Ohio, he served as a member of the Recreation Board, was the first Chairman of the Architectural Review Board, and was elected to the Board of Education, serving as its President for a time. He is a former member of the Cuyahoga County Airport Architectural Review Board. In 1976, he was a nominee for the Applause Award program as one of the outstanding people of Greater Cleveland.
Steve has been in building design and construction since 1956. He is president of Krekus Architect, Inc. an architectural firm and president of Kai Corporation, a construction management and development company. He previously was with TGI Friday’s, Inc. in Dallas, Texas, a world wide casual dining restaurant company where he was Vice President of Architecture and Construction and was responsible for the design and construction of over numerous new restaurants. He presently is presently semi retired and still designing TGI Friday’s, as well as other restaurants, commercial and manufacturing facilities.
Steve is the holder of the NCARB (National Council of Architectural Review Boards) Certificate and has been a registered architect in several states throughout the country. He is a former instructor of architectural design and graphics at Lakeland Community College in Mentor, Ohio.
Steve was initiated into Selynma Chapter, Order of DeMolay in Lyndhurst, Ohio in 1951. He served as Master Councilor in 1953 and was granted the Representative DeMolay Award (the Chapter’s first), Chevalier Degree and the Blue Honor Key. He was a Second District Officer and a State Representative.
After College he returned to be an Advisor with Willoughby Chapter and then Chapter Advisor of Selynma Chapter, before being appointed a Second District Deputy in 1963. In 1971 he became Governor of the Second District and held that position until he was appointed a DDGM in 1975. On the State level in Ohio, Steve served as State Membership Director and also served three years as State Advisory Council Chairman. He has participated on the staff of several International Supreme Council Leadership Conferences. He has been awarded the Active Legion of Honor, Medal of Appreciation, and Cross of Honor. In the Spring of 1983 he was elected an Active Member of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay. While living in Texas he served as Membership Director and was on the Executive Officer’s Advisory staff. He served as Director of Ohio’s State Officers for 20 years. From 1995-99 he served as Executive Officer of Ohio DeMolay and was elected to two terms as Region 4 Representative on DeMolay International’s Board of Directors. Steve was one of the original inductees into the Ohio DeMolay Hall of Fame in 2007. He is presently a member of the Board of Directors of DeMolay Canada.
In addition to DeMolay, Steve has served as a Rainbow Advisor and has been awarded the Rainbow Grand Cross of Color. Carol, is a Past Worthy Advisor of Heights Assembly and Past Mother Advisor of two Assemblies and Past Secretary of Willoughby O.E.S. She is also a Past President of the Richmond Heights Garden Club and the Richmond Heights PTA.
Most Worshipful Brother Krekus is a member of George A. Holly Lodge #745 in Painesville, Ohio, where he served as Master in 1972. Steve is an Honorary Member of twelve Ohio Lodges and a member of Tranquility Lodge # 2000 in Texas. He is a member of Mount Olive Chapter #189 R.A.M.; Painesville Council #104 R. & S.M.; Eagle Commandery #29 K.T.; the Royal Order of Scotland; Hi Point Council No. 120 of the Allied Masonic Degrees, where he served as Sovereign Master for 1992; Senior DeMolay Mark Master Lodge No. 2; Willoughby Chapter O.E.S. He was appointed a District Deputy Grand Master of the 25th Masonic District in 1975 and served until October 1978. He is a former Chairman of the Grand Lodge Temple Committee and the Grand Lodge Education and Information Committee. He has been a member of the A.A.S.R., Valley of Cleveland since 1965 and served as Most Wise Master of Ariel Chapter Rose Croix in 1979-81, and received the 33o in 1980. Steve was a Scottish Rite representative on the Ohio Masonic Home Board of Trustees for a 3 year term. He served the Valley of Cleveland for many years as Chairman of the Class Directors and is a Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
In October of 1996, M.W. Bro. Thomas H. Galyen appointed Steve to serve the Grand Lodge of Ohio as Junior Grand Deacon and he served as Grand Master in 2003-2004.