Jacob "Jack" Kraft, 1940-2022
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Feb 23, 2022 | 11:00 AM / 1458 views
Mass of Christian Burial for Jacob “Jack” Kraft, 81, of Timber Lake will be at 10 AM Friday, February 25, 2022, at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake. Burial will be at the Kraft Family Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be at 5 PM with a prayer service at 6 PM Thursday at the church. Jack passed away Monday, February 21, 2022, at the Walworth County Care Center in Selby.
Jacob (Jack) Leo Kraft of Timber Lake, SD passed away on Monday, February 21, 2022 at the age of 81. After several weeks of declining heath, Jack died at the Walworth County Care Center in Selby, SD.
Jack was born March 21, 1940, in Glencross, SD the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reis) Kraft. Jack grew up in a small farm house on a ranch south of Glencross with 15 siblings. As many of the families in the Glencross area, Jack spoke German at home. The Kraft’s faith and strength helped them survive the harsh living conditions of the South Dakota prairie without running water and electricity and an always growing family. Jack experienced some traumatic experiences in his early years. As a baby, he was badly burned by boiling water when a kettle got spilled on him when he was crawling next to the coal stove. A pillow was used to carry him around until the burns were healed. As a toddler, he fell off stairs and gradually lost his ability to walk. Polio was suspected, but Dr. Ivy adjusted his back and he returned to health. The family dog would take him by the hand and lead him around the yard.
Jack graduated Timber Lake High School in 1958. After high school, Jack was an SDSU Jackrabbit for one year. He then served in the United States Army for two years. Jack spent the next two years utilizing the “Kraft carpentry gene” working for his brother Gene building houses in Mobridge, SD. Jack became a lineman and worked transmission lines in North Dakota and Nebraska.
In 1969, Jack and Linda Meyer were married and they raised three children Angie, Jake and Doug. During the early years of marriage, Jack was employed by Moreau Grand Electric and also operated a ranch south of Timber Lake. After several years, he was able to hang up the hooks to ranch and farm full time.
As an active member of the Timber Lake community, he served as a director at Moreau Grand Electric for three terms. Jack was an active member of the Rodeo Club and worked as tent manager for the Days of 1910. Jack was one of the founding owners of Dakota Silk Screen which is still thriving today.
After retiring from farming and ranching, Jack stayed busy watering his trees, driving grain truck for the elevator, tending to the Kraft cemetery, stopping in town to fill up his coffee cup, and visiting many family and friends. He often drove a “route” visiting his favorite places and people every day. As a man of faith, he often attended multiple masses weekly.
Jack was known as good neighbor ready to help with whatever he could and welcomed others to his home. He loved family gatherings with his siblings and their families. Boating on the river, going to the cabin, or gathering at home; many stories and memories of growing up were shared and exaggerated during those occasions. Jack loved tending all the trees he had planted on the ranch. He loved pets (if they stayed outside). Children brought him joy. He enjoyed teasing them and maybe twisting a few noses and pulling a few toes. He loved watching his kids and grandkids play and excel in sports. Due to his love of sports and love of his kids and grandkids, lots of coaching conversations were had concerning their athletic performances. Euchre, gin, poker, whist, canasta… you name it, he played it and he played it well. Jack was heartbroken when he had to bury his son and compadre, Doug, after an aircraft accident. In addition to his parents and son, he is preceded in death by siblings Tony, Claudius, Ed, Gene, Herman, Andy, Butch, David, Dick, Eleanore and Helen Bracken.
Left to celebrate his life are his children Angella (Matt) Hotzler, Jake (Jodi) Kraft; grandchildren Taylor, Matthew, Elise, Jared Hotzler, Cody (Morgan), Tanner (Sierra), Tucker, Isaac, Hank and Shay Kraft; one great grandson, Douglas Kraft; sisters Idora Wortman, Marie Klein, Edith Scherer; brother Fred Kraft; friend Linda Kraft; daughter-in-law Tausha Kraft and many nephews and nieces.