Karen Kirschenbauer and Kraigher Kristofferson- Where are Kris Kristofferson’s siblings Now?

Kris Kristofferson is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is renowned for his extraordinary voice and rugged looks. The legendary singer is also a former helicopter pilot and golden gloves boxer. But that is not all, his personal life is quite interesting, more so, his family. Kris is not the only child of his parents Lars Henry Kristofferson and Mary Ann (Ashbrook) Kristofferson. He has two siblings- Karen Kirschenbauer and Kraigher Kristofferson.

Who are Kris Kristofferson’s siblings- Karen Kirschenbauer and Kraigher Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson’s siblings were born in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson, a U.S. Army Air Corps officer (later a U.S. Air Force major general). Their paternal grandparents emigrated from Sweden, while his mother had English, Scots-Irish, German, Swiss-German, and Dutch ancestry. Their paternal grandfather was an officer in the Swedish Army.

The family moved frequently from Texas and California to Hawaii and finally to Saudi Arabia because of their father’s job, where their father, General Kristofferson became Aviation Manager of Aramco.

ALSO, READ; Lars Henry Kristofferson: What happened to Kris Kristofferson’s father?

Kris and his siblings were raised by a loving Hispanic Nanny Juanita Cantu. The singer was just six months old when Juanita Cantu began caring for him. Juanita was only 13 years old when she was hired by the Kristofferson family to be the nanny. 

The Nanny also later cared for Karen and Kraig. According to Texasborderbusiness, the Nanny, who was still a child herself, took care of the siblings as if they were her own. It didn’t take long for the Nanny and the three siblings to develop a loving relationship that would last a lifetime.

During the interview with Texasborderbusiness, Juanita Cantu, when asked if Kris was a hyperactive child, said, “No, and even though I had permission from Mrs. Kristofferson to spank the children if they misbehaved, I never did have to spank them.  The children were very obedient and I enjoyed them very much”.

Karen Kirschenbauer was an actress

Karen Kirschenbauer was born on December 18, 1938, in Brownsville, Texas, USA. Kris Kristofferson’s sister was an actress, known for The Jackal (1997), Vanishing Son (1994), and Sommersby (1993). Karen met her husband, George Kirschenbauer, while she was teaching school for American children in Wiesbaden, Germany, where George, a West Point graduate and then Army Lieutenant, was stationed per her Legacy profile. They married there in 1965 and subsequently had three sons. 

ALSO, READ; Mary Ann Ashbrook: What happened to Kris Kristofferson’s mother?

Kris Kristofferson’s sister Karen died peacefully in her sleep of a heart attack on Friday, May 6, 2005, at age 66. She is survived by her beloved husband, Colonel George Kirschenbauer; three sons, and his brother Kris and Kraigher Kristofferson.

Kraigher Kristofferson

Kraigher Kristofferson was born in the 1930s. According to Heritage, Kraigher Kristofferson was a United States Navy fighter pilot, served in the Vietnam War, and is a veteran of the Armed Forces. Kraigher is the youngest of the Kristofferson children.

Kris under pressure from his family, joined the U.S. Army, was commissioned as a second lieutenant, and attained the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He also completed Ranger School. During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division. During this time, he resumed his music career and formed a band.

ALSO, READ; Kris Kristofferson Children: Meet the 8 children of the Singer

In 1965, after his tour in Germany ended, Kristofferson was given an assignment to teach English literature at West Point. Instead, he decided to leave the Army and pursue songwriting. His family disowned him because of his career decision; sources are unclear on whether they reconciled. 

They saw it as a rejection of everything they stood for, although Kristofferson says he is proud of his time in the military and received the Veteran of the Year Award at the 2003 American Veterans Awards ceremony. The singer has not spoken much about the relationship he has with his siblings.