VALERIE ANN NIELSEN KRAFT

KRAFT BEST NIELSEN HENNINGER SMITH BECKER WICHELMANN

Posted By: collene Root (email)
Date: 4/8/2011 at 10:35:58

GWALCOTT, Iowa — Valerie Ann Kraft, age 84, of Walcott, Iowa, died on Friday, December 31, 2010, at Courtyard Estates in Walcott.
Valerie was born April 23, 1926, to Fred and Minnie (Nielsen) Best in Muscatine County, Iowa. She married Wayne M. Kraft on November 8, 1944, in Davenport. He preceded her in death on October 8, 1999.
Valerie was a member of the Blue Grass American Auxilary Post #711, where she was active in the sewing ladies group, Royal Neighbors of America, Durant Camp and the Muscatine County Farm Bureau. She was a former 4-H Leader for the Montpelier Merry Makers and enjoyed baking and crafts.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 3, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bentley Funeral Home, Durant, Iowa.
Services will be held on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Bentley Funeral Home in Durant. Interment will take place at the Blue Grass Cemetery, Blue Grass, Iowa.
Valerie is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughters, Gloria Henninger of Davenport, Linda and her husband, Stephen Smith, of Walcott, and Joni and her husband, Cal Becker, of Monroe, Neb.; her sons, Wayne and his wife, Donna Kraft, of Davenport, Richard and his wife, Carol Kraft, of Dale, Wis., Jerry Kraft of Andalusia, Ill., and Scott Kraft of Newberry Springs, Calif.; seven grandchildren; four step grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; 14 step great-grandchildren; two step great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Marlene and her husband, Dave Mullins, of Baring, Mo., and Elvera Mehrens of Walcott; as well as her brother Melvin Best of Stockton, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sister, Erma Wichelmann, her brother, Elmer Best, and a step great-granddaughter.
Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, Blue Grass; Community Fellowship Church, Blue Grass; the Blue Grass American Legion Auxilary; or Courtyard Estates, Walcott, in her memory.