Obituaries » Ralph L. Kraft
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Ralph L. Kraft
July 8, 1926 - November 20, 2016
Burial Date November 23, 2016
Funeral Home Pawlak Funeral Home
Cemetery Erie Union Cemetery
Church Abundant Life Ministries
Service starts at 11:00 am
Visitation: Tuesday, November 22, 2016; 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Ralph Kraft, 90, joined Jesus, his Savior, in paradise early Sunday morning, November 20, 2016. He was surrounded by his family in his Erie Michigan home as he left for his eternal home.
Ralph was the beloved husband of Eleanor Kraft, whom he adored in marriage for 65 years.
He was the cherished father of three children, Lloyd (1954-2013), Sheila (Norm) Hallenbeck, and Brenda (Dominic) LaPan; four grandchildren, Ben Hershberger, Jimmy Burrington, Christi (Kevin) Strole, and Heather (Kenny) Bishop, and six great grandchildren, Barrett & Brock Hershberger, and Koen, Hayleigh, Kodiak, & Harlo Bishop.
Ralph was born on July 8, 1926 in Roseville, Michigan. He volunteered for the US Navy at age 17. He trained at Fort Pierce, Florida as a Motor Machinist’s Mate and Under Water Demolition Specialist (Navy Frogmen) U.D.T #23. He served aboard the USS Ottawa and USS Shelter, as well as on Higgins Landing/Assault Crafts from 1944 to 1946. He graduated from Macomber High School in 1949.
Ralph was a pattern maker and foreman of John Erler Industries until disability retirement in 1986. Following retirement he used his God given talents to create amazing doll houses, miniature furniture, and remote control planes, as well as to care for his carefully restored Model A Ford. He was a member of the Model A Restorers Club and the Toledo Area Miniature Enthusiasts.
Ralph was a member of Erie United Methodist Church in Erie, Michigan. He accepted Jesus into his heart at age 32, and spent his life serving Him, spreading the good news of the gospel at every opportunity. His kindness and care for each person who crossed his path was evident to the very end of his earthly life, as the love of Christ flowed abundantly through him.
Friends and family may visit at Pawlak Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 from 4pm to 8pm with a prayer service at 7pm. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Abundant Life Ministry 8971 Lewis Avenue in Temperance, Michigan on Wednesday, November 23rd at 11am. Graveside service with military salute will follow at Erie Union Cemetery on Cemetery Road in Erie, Michigan. Pastor Roy Southerland and Pastor Dominic LaPan will officiate the services.
