Pearl Helen Nielsen was born March 23, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois to Jens P. and Ellen (Sorensen) Nielsen. She attended Carl Schurz High School in Chicago and graduated from Wheaton College in 1941 with a B.S. degree in Zoology. She dormed at Cork Cottage, and was a member of the Aelioian Literary Society (Director of Sergeants). She was also a member of the Women's Glee Club, German Club, Orchestra, Chicago Club and the Pre-med Club, in which students interacted with leading surgeons and educators. She taught in Chicago high schools for six years after graduation. She married Army 1st Lieut. Harry W. Krause (d. 5/12/2002) at Salen Church, Chicago on November 20, 1944. Her husband finished his college work under the G.I. Bill at Illinois Institute of Technology while Pearl was a homemaker. She received her Masters of Library Science (MLS) from Rosary College (River Forest, IL) in 1955 and also completed additional graduate studies at Northwestern University. She worked in education for 32 years, the last 25 as head librarian at Evanston High School. She attended the North Suburban Evangelical Free Church. She retired with her husband to Mesa, Arizona in 1980. She died on January 12, 2007 in Mesa, AZ and was survived by her two children and five grandchildren.