Kenneth Kraft

1934 - 2015

Kraft, Kenneth "Pause friend let beauty refresh the spirit" is the quote his Father inscribed on the Exedra at the Kraft Azalea Gardens; which inspired the life of Kenneth H. Kraft, Jr., who succumbed to lung cancer on April 14, 2015 at the age of 81. He paused to collect friends, creating joy in people's lives as he always saw the beauty every individual offered. Once you were his friend, you were a friend forever. Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 2, 1934. He attended Ravinia School and Highland Park High School where he was active in swimming and track. Ken graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. At Purdue, Ken was in the Naval ROTC and served on the Interfraternity Council. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity serving as its Pledge Trainer, Vice President, and President. Ken was a Life Loyal Sig and honored by his fraternity as a Significant Sig in 2004, a distinction earned for his lifelong service to both his community and beloved fraternity. Ken also worked with the fraternity to support the house renovations at Purdue University, University of Florida and University of Central Florida. Ken continued supporting Purdue upon his graduation as a Life Member of the Alumni Association and as a member of the President's Council. As an ambassador of higher education, Ken established the Kenneth H. Kraft, Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund at the Krannert Graduate School at Purdue, which provides scholarship assistance to outstanding scholars seeking a master's level business degree. As a loyal Boilermaker, Ken also supported the John Purdue Club and was a member of the Southwest Florida and Central Florida Purdue Alumni Clubs. Upon graduation from Purdue, Ken was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Naval Supply Corps Reserves, attending the Navy Supply School in Athens, GA. He graduated with Highest Honors and served two years stationed in Saipan, Mariana Islands. Upon completing his military commitment, Ken selected Winter Park, FL to live and establish Kraft Insurance Agency. Ken spent many summers with his grandparents and fell in love with the people and the weather in Central Florida. Continuing the family legacy, Ken's parents would retire to also reside in Winter Park. Ken quickly became involved in joining the Jaycees and was named Outstanding Young Man in 1970. Ken's membership with Rotary spanned over fifty years where he also served as a Director. Ken continued his commitment to the Central Florida community serving on several Board of Directors: Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Red Cross, Orange County United Way, Winter Park YMCA and Committee of 100. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Winter Park Hospital for nineteen years and was Chairman of the Winter Park Community Trust Fund. He demonstrated his love for the beauty of Winter Park as a founding member of the Keep Winter Park Beautiful Committee and was honored as Volunteer of the year in 1994. Ken achieved fifty plus years of association as a member of the University Club. You may recall Ken riding around town in his 1929 Model A Ford and he was a member of the Model A Club of America. He also earned the 32¿ Scottish Rite Mason distinction. Ken's love of the community and commitment to service afforded him the 2002 Citizen of the Year award from the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. He also was honored to be included in the Who's Who in Finance & Industry, America and the World. The First Presbyterian Church of Orlando has played a central role in Ken's life. He cherished his involvement with the church and received great comfort as a recipient of the work provided by the Stephen Ministries program. The Kenneth & Kathleen Kraft Endowed Scholarship fund was created to assist children of the church in furthering their college education. Throughout his working career, Ken was instrumental in establishing many businesses throughout Central Florida and served as President and Board Chairman of Newspaper Publishing companies in California and Texas. Ken founded several family businesses including Kraft Insurance Agency, KHK Investment Company, KHK Financial Corporation, Kraft Family Limited Partnership and Kraft Investment Properties. He also tried his hand at raising cattle and growing tangerines. Ken was a founding director of Gooding's Groceries of Florida, International Laser Systems, Orlando which is now part of Lockheed-Martin; Schwartz Electro-Optics; Princeton Financial Corporation; Falcon Aviation while having his private pilot's license and TV 9 Inc., in the original ownership group for WFTV, Channel 9-Orlando. Carrying on the family tradition in banking, Ken became a member of the Board of Directors for Barnett Bank of Central Florida serving on many committees over his 32 year tenure. With his passion for amateur sports, Ken served on the team selection committee and as an ambassador for Florida Citrus Sports. Also taking time to enjoy his involvement with his friends, Ken was pleased to serve as the President of the Country Club of Orlando and as a Charter Member of the Citrus Club of Orlando. Ken established a second home in Sanibel, FL where, for 35 years, he enjoyed boating and entertaining friends. Ken was a member of the Captiva Island Yacht Club and the Useppa Island Club during his time in Sanibel. After retiring, Ken pursued his love of the sea and acquired a Grand Banks trawler, enjoying many cruising adventures with his wife Kathy (now deceased). Joining the Southern and Chesapeake Grand Banks Owners Associations, they spent time cruising the waters of the Gulf and out to the Bahamas before embarking on a trip up the eastern seaboard. After many voyages in and around the Chesapeake Bay, Ken and Kathy established another home in Northern Virginia and explored the area and its rich history of our nation. He joined the Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club in Kilmarnock, VA and became an associate member of the Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church in Weems, VA. Ken is survived by his children: Katherine Kraft Decker of Atlanta, GA; Carolyn Kraft Bethel and her husband, Charles of Winter Park, FL; Kenneth H. Kraft, III and his wife, Lisabeth of Longwood FL; and his stepson, Michael Harker and his wife, Marie of Taylorsville, KY; his sisters, Elizabeth Kraft Schweizer of Edgewater, FL and Judith Kraft O'Conner and her husband, Richard of Oklahoma City, OK and his beloved Grandchildren: William Miles Decker, Jr., Katherine Preston Decker, Chase A. Harker, Abigail Caroline Bethel, Claire Frederick Bethel, and Emily Elizabeth Bethel. A private family burial will take place at Palm Cemetery in Winter Park. A celebration of Ken's life will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception in the King Parlor with the family. Memorials may be given in memory of Kenneth H. Kraft, Jr. to: UF Health, Orlando Cancer Center, 1400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806 or to the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando for the family's endowed scholarship fund. Should you wish to send flowers, the family requests azalea plants for installation in furthering the beautification of the Kraft Azalea Gardens in Winter Park, FL.