Gilbert ‘Gil’ B. Kraft, 96

Published 10:28 am Thursday, March 27, 2014

Gilbert “Gil” B. Kraft, 96, formerly of Kasson, Minn., died on March 25, 2014, at the Charter House in Rochester, Minn., where he had resided the past eight years.

Kraft

Gil was born on July 28, 1917, in Elkton, Minn., the son of Fred and Maria (Neubauer) Kraft. He was baptized and confirmed in St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Elkton.

He graduated from Elkton High School and received a Bachelor of Education degree from Winona State College in 1939. Employment followed as a teacher and coach in Kiester High School, where he met Elnora “Bonnie” Moe, whom he married in 1941. Bonnie passed away in 1996.

During World War II, Gil was an instructor at the Naval Air Technical Command in Norman, Okla. He then served two years aboard the USS Pueblo in the Pacific Theatre. After his honorable discharge from the Coast Guard in September 1945, he finished the year teaching and coaching in the Elkton High School.

Following one year as a district manager of Farmers Insurance Group of SE Minnesota, he again returned to education as a teacher and later, director of guidance in the Kasson-Mantorville Schools until his retirement in 1979.

Always an advocated of education, Gil established the Gil Kraft Scholarship Fund at Winona State University for the benefit of secondary education students. In the fall of 2013, he was honored at the Winona State vs. Augustana College football game in recognition of lettering three years as a running back in 1936, 1937, and 1938, while he was a WSU student. At half time of the game he was introduced, interviewed and presented with a helmet signed by members of the current team.

Gil’s interests included all sports, coin collecting, fishing, hunting, helping others and trips to the casino.

Gil is survived by eight nieces and nephews; Roger (Peggy) Kraft, of Austin, Minn.; Marlys (David) Senjem, of Rochester; Ronald Kraft, of Houston, Minn.; Steven (Diane) Baker, of Michigan, N.D.; Greg Baker, of Portland, Ore.; Mary Ann (Marlo) Flo, of Dexter, Minn.; Karen Machacek, of Austin; Gary (Vickie) Larson, of Park Rapids, Minn.; and 16 grandnieces and nephews, many friends and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Elnora “Bonnie”; parents; brother, Rudolf Kraft, and sister, Alice Larson.

The funeral service for Gilbert “Gil” B Kraft will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 8th Avenue NW, Kasson, MN with Rev. Nirmala Reinschmidt officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in rural Elkton following the luncheon.

Memorials are suggested to the Gil Kraft Scholarship Fund at Winona State University, Dollars for Scholars at Kasson High School, or the donor’s choice.

Gil will be forever remembered for his interest in people and his generosity to his family and friends.