James Allen CRAFTON

CRAFTON, STEFFENS, NIDAY, KETCHUM, KLINGE, CROSS, HALL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/30/2008 at 11:38:13

Source unknown
Ca. January 1988

February 03, 1959 -- January 14, 1988

James A. Crafton, 28, Norwalk, Iowa formerly of Rowan, died at University Hospitals in Iowa City on Thursday afternoon, January 14, 1988. Funeral services were conducted at the Rowan United Church of Christ on Monday afternoon, Rev. Joan Moss officiated and Burial was in Graceland Cemetery at Rowan. The Eyler-Willim Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Casket bearers were Gene Ketchum, Matt Smith, Robert Groom, David Moore, Ed Strake and Randy Crafton. Honorary bearers were Larry Riedel, Gene Frohling, Scott Brockman, Dan Ketchum and Tom
Albers.

Jim was born at Belmond on February 3, 1959, the son of Verle and Patricia Ketchum Crafton. He was raised in Rowan and graduated from Belmond High School in 1977. For five years he was a counselor at Camp Sunnyside in Des Moines. He then attended Hawkeye Technical College in Waterloo. For the past five years he was a Civil Engineer Technician for the Des Moines Water Works. He was married to Jolene S. Niday on June 28, 1980 at Humeston.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Jason, age five; his parents, Verle and Patricia Crafton; a brother, Randall; two sisters, Barbara Cross of Dows and DeAnn Klinge of Rowan; and his grandparents, Dorotha Ketchum of Rowan and George Crafton of Mt. Home, AK. His grandfather, Philip Ketchum and grandmother, Lois Hall preceded him in death.

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Last month, the Water Works lost a friend. James Allen Crafton, known to most of us as "Jay", died in Iowa City on January 14, 1988, from complications following surgery. To those of us who knew Jay, he was in inspiration. Though he suffered from hemophilia, and was in pain much of the time, he still made the extra effort to keep on going. He was the only hemophiliac in the state of Iowa to hold down a full-time job. He made the most of each day and taught us all about true courage. We will miss your laughter, your smile . . . . we will miss you, Jay.

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