Frank "Hank" Kraft 1917-2010

KRAFT REVEL RILEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 2/5/2010 at 22:23:37

Mapleton Press
21 January 2010

Frank “Hank” Kraft 1917-2010

Frank “Hank” Kraft was born on November 18, 1917, on a farm east of Mapleton, Ia. He died on January 13, 2010 in Omaha, Ne., at the age of 92. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 16,2010 at St. John’s Methodist Church in Mapleton with Pastor Fred Pilecki an Pastor Karen Garrison officiating. Message in the music was provided by Marie Whiteing, organist and the congregation singing “Sweet Bye & Bye”, “In the Garden” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” (CD) by Louis Armstrong. Pallbearers were John Kraft, Rob Henrichs, Matthew Westendorf, Jay Westendorf, David Dawson and Todd Partridge. Interment was at Ferguson Cemetery, Lake View, Iowa.

Frank was born to George and Cynthia (Revel) Kraft, one of eight children. He passed away on j
January 13, 2010, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, NE. He lived in and around Mapleton his entire life. He graduated from Mapleton High School in 1936.

On May 1, 1941, he married the love of his life, Norma Riley, and boasted that he had the best marriage ever; it lasted for 66 years. Those years were happy, and they did everything together.

After graduation, he boxed as the “Masked Marvel” and won the Golden Gloves Championship. He farmed worked as a mechanic, delivered rural Sunday papers, and sold Mormon Feeds until 1952 when he became a Star Route mail carrier for the postal service, eventually having several trucks and routes until his retirement.

He has an unshakeable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and if you needed someone to count on, he was always there. He was baptized into St. John’s Methodist Church as an infant and continued to participate in the church activities including Methodist Men’s Club. He was a faithful member.

Frank, unselfishly and with unconditional love, devoted his life to the well being of his wife, children and grandchildren. He made sure he was always there for them. No road was too far to be a part of their lives and activities as he was going to be where the action was.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his son Frank, his grandson Michael, four brothers and two sisters.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna Simpson and husband, Gene of Signal Hill CA; Shirley Westendorf and husband, Neal of Dakota Dunes, SD; Patty Henrichs and husband, Bob of Omaha, NE. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Linda Kraft of Lake View, IA; sister Adeline Drenkhahn of Mapleton, IA; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He loved his family, each and every one.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations may be made in Frank’s name to St. John’s Methodist Church in Mapleton.

Arrangements were under the direction of Armstrong Funeral home.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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