Frank William Kraft 1944 - 2005

RILEY, KRAFT, HUGHES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-volunteer (email)
Date: 7/8/2017 at 21:40:30

Mapleton Press
24 March 2005

Hold services for Frank W. Kraft March 18

Frank William Kraft, age 60, of Lake View, Iowa , died on Tuesday , Marc h 15, 2005, at the Loring Hospital in Sac City, Iowa , surrounded by a room full of family and friends Services were held 10:30 a. m. Friday, March 18, at Wall Lake View Auburn School in Lake View with Rev. Rick Johnson officiating.

Burial was in Ferguson Cemetery, Lake View. Music for the service was by a quartet, Steve Nuetzman ; Keith Erickson , Arlan Willems, Bill Kolbe , and Andy Meredith was the organist.

Frank was born October 21, 1944 in Ute, Iowa, the son of John Franklin "Hank” and Norm a (Riley) Kraft. Frank grew up in Mapleton, Iowa, and graduated from Mapleton High School in 1962. He married Linda Kaye Hughes in Mapleton on August 30, 1966. Frank attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, and graduated with a BA in Education in 1968.

Frank was raised with and loved Donna and husband Gene Simpson of Omaha, Nebraska, Shirley and husband Neal Westendorf of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota and Patty and husband, Bob Henrichs of Omaha, Nebraska, and Lori Dawson, also of Omaha, Nebraska.

Frank started his teaching career for the LV A school system in 1968, teaching and living first in Auburn , then in 1970 moving to Lake View to continue teaching junior high science and coaching . He taught this for two years after the schools combined to make WLVA, then was the first teacher in the Sac Count y Flexible Education Center. He taught there until 2004.

During the summer he worked for the Department of Natural Resources and he thoroughly enjoyed as a way to be outside and around people. His campers remember him as a friend not a employee. He loved biking around Black Hawk Lake and a 30 Acres campground and boating with his family and friends.

Frank is survived by his wife, Linda, his son John Franklin (Julie) of Lake View, Iowa, two daughters, Rachael Ann e Partridge (Todd) of Auburn, Iowa and Renee Anne Kraft of Waterloo, Iowa, his father John Franklin "Hank " Kraft and his mother, Norma Riley Kraft, his grandchildren, Mackenzie and Taggart Phillips Justin and Kayla Kraft; Heave n Anne-Theresa Ross an d Reilly and Kacie Partridge.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Michael Patrick born and died November 27, 1969.

Frank’s life centered around his family, his teaching and his coaching. His family talk about his love of family - his home and heart were always open and there was Pepsi in the frig. Notes from his former students and friends talk about the positive influence Frank always had making others feel like they could do more than they thought they could. He believed in kids and helped them believe in themselves. Although Frank loved coaching and any sport, his true love was basketball. He managed to teach the same values through coaching that he did in his teaching and his life.

Honorary pallbearers were Matt Westendorf, David Dawson, Jay Westendott , Bob Henrichs and Todd Uhl.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Homes.